Encroachments everywhere: Weak approach of the district administration has converted Poonch City into a jungle, Police nowhere; officials lack professional approach

Encroachments everywhere: Weak approach of the district administration has converted Poonch City into a jungle, Police nowhere; officials lack professional approach
POONCH TODAY NEWS
POONCH: The encroachment of main roads, link roads, market space, and illegal parking at maximum places in the Poonch city is giving huge inconvenience to the people, but the district administration has adopted a sleep mode approach in addressing this most burning issue at the moment.

The municipality officials used to visit markets and other areas once in a blue moon to show their presence, but overall, the common man is suffering a lot. Right from Raja Sukhdev Singh hospital road to Parade and then from Parade to main bazaar, there is huge encroachment of market space as maximum shopkeepers are seen indulging in open encroachment practices; thereby, the people face huge inconvenience. An impression has generated in the city that the police and civil administration are nowhere in addressing the genuine issues of the common man. From the main bazaar to Poonch Fort and then to the bus stand area, shopkeepers have encroached on huge space. In cases of illegal parking at various important areas, police are seen as helpless, and it raises a big question mark on the silence of Poonch police. Degree College Road, Poonch Fort Road, Police Station Chowk to S.K. Bridge Road, Parade Area, and likewise other major areas of the city, everywhere shopkeepers and people have captured the area by parking their vehicles illegally. More than 10 feet of road from both sides have been encroached near police station Chowk towards S.K. bridge road. Illegal parking of vehicles on the main roads and unorganized wheel carts at different places of the city are giving major inconvenience to the people. As a result, the main road faces traffic disruption several times a day. Outside of degree college, illegal parking of vehicles has become a routine affair, and the public is suffering a lot, but not a single action was taken by the administration. At a number of places in the city, people have constructed illegal Khokhas and have captured a lot of space, but municipality officers were never seen taking action because owners of those Khokhas are experts in indulging in hand-in-glove acts with the municipality officials. Near Poonch Fort, which was declared as a state-protected monument vide SRO 17 dated January 19, 2012, under the amended Ancient Monuments Preservation and Conservation Act 2010 (Old Act 1920 AD), a number of illegal shops have been constructed with the full hand-in-glove support of Poonch municipality. There are clear cut rules as per the Ancient Monument Preservation and Conservation Act 2010, which says that no construction is possible within 100 meters of the fort, but over the years, tainted officials of the Poonch administration allowed illegal construction by looting public money from the encroachers. There are also reports that the district administration has prepared an illegal plan to construct a parking structure on Army land in front of Poonch Fort, which is again a violation of the said act. Who formatted this plan and with what intention needs to be investigated as it is almost illegal to build any structure near Poonch Fort because it was declared a heritage structure by the government of India? Parkash Sharma, 72 years old, said, “Officers come here and pass their times and go, but I have not seen anybody doing something good for Poonch City. As an old man, I am afraid to pass through various areas of Poonch City, fearing being hit by any vehicle due to overcrowding of roads.” Surinder Singh, a resident of Mohalla Khorinar, said, “Main bazaar has become a jungle. Wherever you go from Parade to Poonch Fort areas, you will find encroachments everywhere. There is no administration on the ground.” The issue of illegal encroachment of markets and illegal parking at different places has become a most debatable issue in the city, but the weak approach of the Poonch police and civil administration in addressing the issue has raised a big question mark on the credibility of the administration. It is high time for the concerned officers to rise from their deep sleep and address the issue in the public interest, as the city has already become a jungle due to the unorganized system of affairs on the part of the administration, as it is seen that the officials of the administration lack professional approach in coming up to the expectations of the people.