J&K: Ban on construction around Dal Lake became bane during floods, say residents

Srinagar: The ban imposed by Jammu and Kashmir High Court on any construction in the Green Belt area around Dal Lake became a bane for the residents of several localities in the area as floods destroyed many decaying houses.

In view of the ban on construction activities by the High Court more than a decade ago, the authorities did not allow any repair or renovation works in the houses which were constructed 40 to 50 years ago.

"I constructed this house more than 45 years ago. After the High Court ban, we could not carry out any repairs or reconstruction of the old houses which led to huge devastation here," Ghulam Mohammad, a resident of Nowpora-Cheshmashahi near Nishat said.

The 75-year-old said dozens of houses have collapsed in his locality due to the old style of construction prevalent practices few decades ago. "Those days while bricks were used for constructing houses, instead of sand-and-cement concrete the practice was to use mud for binding the bricks.

"The flood water stayed in the houses for more than 15 days which led loosening of the mud and subsequent collapse of the houses," he added. Ali Mohammad, another resident of the locality, said the damage would have been far lesser if the government had allowed them to repair and renovate the same houses.

"The government could have approached the High Court to seek an exemption for existing structures to be repaired or even rebuilt as per old design and pattern. But that did not happen," he added.