Unabated constructions turn Sonamarg into concrete jungle

Sonamarg, Sep 5: Despite a strict ban imposed by the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court on all construction activities in Sonamarg since 2017, large-scale illegal constructions continue unabated at the world-famous health resort, raising serious concerns about environmental degradation and the loss of natural beauty.
Locals said that instead of complying with the court’s directions, the Sonamarg Development Authority has failed to stop builders from carrying out illegal works. They alleged that hotels are being raised along the banks of the Nallah Sindh in the name of residential houses, leading to the spread of concrete structures all around the once-pristine resort.
Reliable sources said that although the authority has set up two check posts in Sonamarg and posted employees with directions to prevent the entry of construction material, the same continues to reach the resort without any hurdle. “This exposes the complicity of the officials on the ground,” sources added.
The Sonmarg Development Authority has also constituted an enforcement team to check illegal activities, yet construction remains in full swing across areas falling under its jurisdiction. Locals believe this is happening with the connivance of officials, who are deliberately ignoring court orders.
Public circles expressed deep concern, warning that if the trend is not stopped immediately, Sonamarg’s fragile environment will be permanently damaged and its globally acclaimed natural charm will vanish. [KNT]