Baghat Barzulla residents protest construction of commercial building

Baghat Barzulla residents protest construction of commercial building

mudasir yaqoob(GK)

Inhabitants of Baghat Barzulla here Saturday staged protest demanding stopping of work on an under construction building, which they claimed is designed to be used for commercial purposes in the residential area.

The construction of the building in started around two months ago after the authorities had granted it permission for residential purpose.

“We had earlier talked to the owner who assured us that the building is for his residential purpose and he has no intention or plans to use it for any commercial purpose,” the locals claimed.

An official of SMC said the permission for this building was granted for the construction of two storey house which was later modified for the construction of three storey residential building with attic.

After finding various violations in the permission which suggested that the building is being constructed for commercial purpose, the locals again raised the issue with the owner.

“The commercial building is so tall that it has breached privacy of entire locality. Anyone standing in its second floor can have look inside rooms of any house situated in locality,” said Muhammad Arif Bhat, president of local mohalla committee Nawichbagh Mehboob Colony Baghat.

The locals questioned the role of concerned SMC field staff who are supposed to monitor strict implementation of the building plan. “SMC commissioner should initiate  probe as how the building permission was violated under the glaring eyes of the field staff,” they said.

The protest by locals forced SMC officials to visit the spot and look into the allegations. “It was found that owner has violated the granted permission. The building design suggests that it is being constructed for commercial purposes,” said a senior officer of SMC who is not authorized to speak to media.

SMC chief enforcement officer, Syed Nisar, said “we have stopped work of building and the permission granted has been put under abeyance.”