Surat: Nearly two weeks after more than 100 homes in Nasir Nagar were mysteriously razed in broad daylight, the question continues to baffle authorities: Who carried out the demolition? And, as the inquiry by a six-member committee struggles to find answers, another question is drawing attention — how is a major construction project at the same site continuing without mandatory approvals from the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC)?The ongoing construction activity adjacent to the demolition site does not have development permission from the civic body, officials confirmed. Yet, despite lacking the required approvals, the project has continued for months, raising questions about regulatory oversight and enforcement by SMC.The development adds a fresh layer to the Nasir Nagar controversy, where a six-member inquiry committee claims it is still trying to find out who demolished over 100 homes during a three-day operation carried out in the presence of police and SMC officials at the end of May.According to officials in the SMC’s town development department, the landowners have only applied for plot validation, the first step in the approval process, and even that application is yet to be cleared. Only after plot validation is approved can a developer seek development permission for construction.“Plot validation has been applied for and is yet to be approved. The SMC has not received any application seeking development permission for construction at the site,” Dharmesh Mistry, deputy municipal commissioner and in charge of the central town development department, told TOI.Officials said the town development department had alerted the SMC’s central zone about construction activity continuing without approvals. Following the alert, the zone office issued a notice to those undertaking the project.“We informed Central Zone officials that construction work was being carried out without the required permissions. A notice was subsequently issued,” an official said.The project has been under development for several months. On May 30, the same day demolition activity was underway in Nasir Nagar, the SMC issued a notice directing those responsible for the project to fill the dug-up basement before the onset of the monsoon. However, construction activity allegedly continued even after the demolition sparked widespread controversy and demands for accountability.The construction project has now become part of the political debate surrounding the demolition. Gujarat Assembly Leader of Opposition Tushar Chaudhary questioned whether the developer possessed the necessary approvals to undertake the work.“Does the developer have approvals from the SMC? If the required permissions are not in place and construction is continuing, then the developed structure should also face action,” Chaudhary said.Meanwhile, civic officials are collecting records related to the ownership of the land, which is claimed by an elderly woman. The ownership details are expected to play a crucial role in the ongoing inquiry into the demolition.The inquiry committee, headed by deputy municipal commissioner Meena Gajjar, is yet to come up with any major findings.
