Ganderbal, Mar 26, KNT: Illegal construction activities continue unchecked in Sonmarg despite a 2017 ban imposed by the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, raising concerns over environmental degradation and the violation of court orders.
Reports suggest that since October 8 last year, several residential houses, hotels, and guest houses have been illegally built within the Sonmarg Development Authority (SDA) limits, severely affecting the natural beauty and ecological balance of the area. The Sonmarg Development Authority has allegedly failed to curb these violations, prompting demands from the public to form a committee for investigating the matter.
According to sources, despite the entry ban on construction material, work continues inside existing hotels, with builders finding ways to smuggle in materials. This defiance of the High Court’s ban, reaffirmed on August 8, 2024, has led to strong criticism of the government and the SDA for failing to implement the order effectively.
Public concerns have also intensified after 45 shops were gutted in a massive fire on February 8 this year. While permission was granted for the reconstruction of these shops, sources allege that some individuals are misusing this provision to carry out large-scale illegal construction.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also heads the Tourism Department, has been urged to form a high-level committee to investigate the violations and take strict action against the officials responsible. Public voices warn that if immediate steps are not taken, Sonmarg could turn into a concrete jungle, permanently damaging its tourism potential and livelihood opportunities for thousands of locals dependent on the sector.
Despite grand plans to develop Sonmarg as a major tourist hub and promote winter sports, authorities have been criticized for failing to preserve its natural beauty. The people of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, where Sonmarg is located, have emphasized that tourism remains their primary source of income, and unchecked construction could jeopardize their future.
Locals and environmental activists are now calling for strict implementation of the High Court’s orders to prevent further irreversible damage to one of Kashmir’s most picturesque tourist destinations. (KNT)
