‘Resident evil’ in Hamza Colony Bemina

Construction of hospital in ‘contravention’ to standing Housing Board rules

Zia Darakshan

Srinagar, July 20: Residential colonies in the heart of Srinagar city developed by the Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board are fast turning into commercial hub as the influential class of people have established or are in the process of establishing business centres there. This is in contravention to the standing rules and regulations of the Housing Board policy. Some of such residential colonies have been dominated by the widespread menace of commercialization. These colonies are already facing many concerns ,including over-crowding, parking issues, social disturbance, loss of quality of life and tranquility.

One such residential colony developed by the Housing Board facing onslaught of commercialization is Hamza colony, Bemina Bypass, Srinagar. Spread over 7000sq ft area, some vested interests in violations of standing rules and regulations are converting residential plots into business establishments in the colony well under the nose of authorities. Building permissions for residential purpose are allegedly are being maliciously converted into commercial purposes by some influential people residing in the area. The locals identified plot no 21 in the colony where a hospital building is under construction illegally. While talking to Arising state correspondent, the residents of the colony blamed the authorities to have turned a blind eye to the ongoing construction of a hospital by a doctor namely Dr. Syed Sajad. They said that they resorted to all legal means and contacted the concerned government authorities to stop the construction work of the  hospital. But the authorities, as usual, paid any heed to the concern, they said.

This correspondent visited the colony and captured the ongoing ‘illegal’ construction of the building in camera, which is self explanatory. The hospital work is being carried out in full swing and presently the clinical operations are being carried out by the doctor from his residential house.

This correspondent tried to contact the J&K Housing Board Managing Director,Tassaduk Geelani,  to seek his comment about this ongoing illegal construction in the colony and other issues confronting their residential colonies, but the phone was disconnected  and response deliberately evaded.

A law expert says that it is necessary to get an approval from the housing Board before conversion of residential property to commercial property. Depending on the nature of the business, it may also be necessary to obtain permission from the local municipal authority for the conversion of a residential plot into a commercial establishment.

A civil society member while commenting on the issue said, “Besides, a hospital requires many permissions to run. They would also have obtained a no objection certificate from the neighbours. The residents can check the status of the permissions by seeking an RTI reply from the local authorities regarding the permissions granted and the background papers submitted by the hospital. Let them first complain to the local authority (corporation/panchayat/municipality)in writing. They can also complain to the State Pollution Control Board regarding noise and other pollution.”

A retired top government official said, “There is a zoning process by which hospitals obtain the necessary permits to locate in a particular place. It is doubtful without the neighborhood support that a new hospital would be allowed to locate in the middle of an already established residential neighborhood. However, what happens more often is that new residential neighborhoods develop around an existing hospital. Very unlikely that once there that a hospital can be shut down because of complaints of neighbors who were aware of the hospital’s presence when they purchased or rented their homes.”

Meanwhile, the residents of the colony stated that they would not hesitate to approach the hon’ble court against the construction of the said hospital. ‘There is a Supreme Court ruling in such cases, where the apex court has banned construction of hospital in a residential colony,” they said.