The court order banning construction and transportation of construction material came following reports of large scale illegal construction. (Representational Image)
Jammu and Kashmir High Court has banned all constructions in famous ski resort at Gulmarg in North Kashmir and directed the state government to transfer a Gulmarg Development Authority official for failing to check illegal activities.
A Division Bench comprising Justices M H Attar and Ali Mohammad Magrey yesterday directed the authorities to ensure that all construction activities in Gulmarg be stopped and vehicles carrying construction material to the resort be seized.
The court order banning construction and transportation of construction material came following reports of large scale illegal construction in the garb of minor repairs and without proper permission from the authorities.
"Deputy Commissioner as also Senior Superintendent of Police Baramulla and Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) shall forthwith enforce the above direction and ensure no construction activities is undertaken at Gulmarg till further orders from the court," the bench said.
The court order came in the wake of serious allegations made in a report which prima facie indicated grave irregularities committed in allowing the people to renovate and repair their structures.
Also, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah last week had tweeted that illegal constructions were taking place under the garb of minor repairs in the famous tourist resort in Gulmarg.
The bench also directed the authorities to seal the structures where construction activities are not stopped forthwith.
"That no building material or constructional material shall be transported to the Ski resort till further orders from the court," the court said.
Observing that the situation which has arisen in and around the famous Ski resort by allowing the construction activities without proper permission, the bench also directed to transfer a GDA Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) immediately.
"We deem it proper to ask the Government to immediately shift the AEE posted in GDA and post another person in his place. We expect that order in this behalf be passed in weeks time," the court said.