The present situation is that, massive illegal constructions of commercial structures is on across the city, especially around Nowpora, Babademb, Dal Lake and other nearby areas. The illegalities are so massive that the same would not see execution on the ground without the blessings of the officials in the SMC. There have been various instances of corruption brought to the fore, however, despite having sound foundations, the allegations were never probed and no action ever followed.
The Deputy Mayor of Srinagar City, who happens to be from a party that has a history of controlling the SMC over decades, was also accused of engaging in widespread corruption; the evidence was forwarded to the administrative department, but to everyone’s utter dismay, no investigation was ever conducted, let alone strict action being taken. Although the administration has consistently emphasised the importance of ensuring transparency and accountability in the system, it seems to have forgotten to bring the SMC under its purview because corruption is occurring there in the open while the administration has thus far preferred to appear mute, deaf, and blind.
Especially since the “elected representative”—the Corporators—took office and chose to make money by putting it up in a way that made it easier for the illegalities to take place on the ground, corruption has established strong roots and taken on an ugly face in the SMC. There are a few honourable exceptions, for sure, but the general sense is what has been described here. The entire corporation has been left paralysed as a result of these legislators’ preference for politics, favouritism, and corruption; even the IAS officer who serves as the SMC administrator has accepted his position of helplessness.
The LG-led administration cannot run away from the sorry state of affairs within the SMC. It cannot allow the corrupt elements to take the entire system for a ride. It needs to act now; order a probe into the irregularities that have come to the fore so far; carry out an audit of the commercial constructions that going on across the city, or otherwise, we would be left with nothing but to tell ourselves that the administration is hand-in-glove with the corrupt in the SMC and claims of transparency, accountability are nothing but a mere hoax.
