MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir Digital): The negligence and incompetence of the incumbent Azad Kashmir government towards curbing the illegal construction has posed serious landslide threats at various places on Muzaffarbad’s Srinagar Highway, also known as Muzaffarabad-Chakothi Road.
According to the Kashmir Digital report, the relevant institutions have issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) illegally for the construction of commercial plazas on points along the Srinagar highway where the chances of landslides are high.
Due to the land mafia and negligence of concerned govt departments, citizens are facing the loss of life and property. In rainy weather, the public often faces a high risk of landslides at various places alongside the road.
Last year, a motorcyclist standing by the highway lost his life due to landslides.
Kashmir Digital correspondent Shujaat Mir learned that landslides have increased in the area due to construction inside the mountains, which is the clear negligence of the highway department and other related institutions.
The local administration is also reluctant to take action against the encroachment mafia. The encroachments and illegal constructions on the Srinagar highway have affected the smooth travel of students on the road.
While talking to Azaad Digital, local people said that if the government and local administration show seriousness and prevent landslides by stopping illegal constructions, then accidents can be avoided in the future.
In another development, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has placed a tent near the riverbank of Muzaffarbad over the alarming rise in suicide cases. The AJK capital has been alarmed, with 14 reported cases of people ending their lives by jumping into rivers in the last year.
Instead of addressing the root causes of this ever-growing issue, authorities have adopted an unusual measure by placing a tent near the riverbank of the Jhelum River to retrieve bodies rather than taking measures to prevent suicides in the first place.
