Despite the order to stop the construction in the under-construction bus station at district headquarters Pauri issued by sub-divisional magistrate Pauri, Pauri Municipal Board has started the construction, defying the order. The civic board has also allegedly defied the notice of National Highway Authority of India Srinagar division and the notice of executive engineer Public Works Department Provincial division. The land belongs to NHAI.
Sub-divisional magistrate Pl Shah said that no NOC has been given to municipal board by the regulatory officer and if the construction has started without permission action will be taken and the work will be stopped. Shah added that the matter would be looked into. He stressed that no construction work sans permission would be allowed.
The common refrain running here is that government land is being encroached upon with impunity by individuals and even the civic board with the district administration looking the other way.
The people allege that the municipal board’s president Yashpal Benam are for some shops being constructed on National Highway land in Srinagar division. Construction started in May. The National Highway Srinagar division had sent a notice to executive officer of Pauri Municipal Board to stop the work and requested district magistrate to intervene in the matter.
On the complaints, the regulatory officer SDM Shah stopped the construction work. Subsequently, the executive engineer PWD Provincial division gave notice to the municipality. However, the people allege that the EE PWD is hand in glove with Yashpal Benam on the matter of unauthorized construction.
It is alleged that the civic body is planning to construct a few shops in the area wedged between Kotdwar-Pauri-Srinagar National Highway and Mall Road that is under the purview of PWD. NHAI Srinagar division executive officer Dhirendra Kumar said that the division has not given any NOC to Pauri Municipal Board for the construction.