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| KEA extends solidarity with shopkeepers affected due to 'development' | | As shopkeepers of Solina, adjacent areas threaten to suspend their business; locals all set to face huge problems | | Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Mar 20: A huge chunk of population living just a kilometer or so away from the city centre are all set to face numerous problems since the shopkeepers of the area may proceed on a long 'leave' while alleging discrimination from the people at helm in the name of 'development'.
The shopkeepers of Haft Chinar, Solina and Rambagh while taking pot shots at the construction work going on flyover have threatened to shut down their business. The traders are demanding proper rehabilitation saying that the development is more than likely to cost them their livelihood.
Sharing their views with Early Times a group of shopkeepers said that delay in construction of shops meant for them has led to a situation wherein they are losing their clientele due to construction work going on the flyover. They said that due to dirt and dust not many people are visiting them and as such they are suffering huge losses.
"Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) has failed to construct shops for us and this has caused lot of hardships to us. We are suffering losses like anything but still then it does not make any difference for the government. We have been forced to pay for the sins that we never committed," said the shopkeepers.
The shopkeepers claim that 400 shopkeepers are affected by the construction work on the flyover. They said that they would shut down their business since they cannot afford to suffer further losses both in the form of clientele and the articles that they sell on their shops.
"The Asian Development Bank had asked ERA to first rehabilitate the shopkeepers and then start the construction work on the flyover. However, the ERA authorities bye-passed these directions and started the construction work while keeping the rehabilitation aspect at bay. Despite many representations nobody among the government listened to us and as such we are forced to take the extreme decision," said the shopkeepers.
The shopkeepers feared that their losses would not end soon as the shopping complex meant for their rehabilitation would take many more months before being completed. They said that they have been pushed to the hilt due to the wrong policies of ERA and the lackadaisical attitude of the state government.
In the meantime, Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) has demanded that compensation to the shopkeepers displaced due to any developmental programme should be based on market rates. The Alliance said that compensation paid on the recommendations by any committee constituted a decade back would not be acceptable to the shopkeepers.
"Alliance understands well that the road widening and consequent demolition of shops to achieve the expansion plan has become a necessity. It is more decade back that the high level committee had decided to pay a uniform compensation for the demolition of shops, irrespective of their size, location and the nature of business they used to operate. We believe that this made no economic sense to pay just compensation that too on unjust basis, ignoring their rehabilitation part, yet the plan was put in force," said KEA Chief Spokesman, Siraj Ahmad in a statement.
Siraj said that KEA has out-rightly criticized the committee recommendations, decisions and the practice being followed. He said that it is unfortunate that the authorities insist on paying the same compensation decided some 15 years back for acquiring of the shops makes absolutely no sense.
"The KEA expresses its deep concern about the callous attitude of the government and urges it to pay compensation as per the prevailing market rates. The rehabilitation requirements and costs to meet the just demand of the displaced shopkeepers/owners which may bring some sigh of relief to them should also be kept in active consideration," said Siraj. |
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