 Early Times Report
billawar, Aug 19: The anti-encroachment drive launched by district administration Kathua in tehsil Billawar has evoked resentment among the hundreds of kiosk owners, who were targeted in the drive.
They accused the administration of adopting dual yardstick in Gandhi Nagar locality where illegal Rehri owners were rehabilitated by giving space while as in Rani Park and other areas of Jammu city, many illegal Reharies creating traffic congestion have been untouched.
The anti-encroachment drive initiated by tehsil administration Billawar had removed a total of over 1000 kiosks, established along various roads and at small bus stops such as Bhini, Dingi Simbli, Nagrota, Thara Kalyal, Gurha Kalyal, Mandli, Fintar beside others.
A total of nearly 250 kiosks were removed from Fintar market, after which people were seen sharing their views on social networking sites, castigating the Prime Minister for the acts of district administration.
A kiosk owner Ranjeet Kumar said that there were no plans of expansion of road. "Already the road connecting Fintar with Billawar is double lane with sparse traffic. Even at stands there is enough space and no traffic congestion problem but despite that kiosks have been removed", Kumar who had been running a shop for the last over 30 years, said.
He further said that there were no plans of road expansion. "There are numerous eucalyptus plants along road which needs to be removed for expansion and it would take many months until then they could have allowed us to continue our small business", he said.
Abdullah another kiosk owner said that illegal Reharis were creating traffic congestion in Gandhi Nagar area of Jammu city, but they were provided space to run their business and now they are running business along national highway from Gandhi Nagar college to Last morh", he said, adding that the dual yardstick of government was not unacceptable.
He further alleged that most of the Reharies in Rani Park area and across the Jammu city were of some politicians and also created traffic congestions but government never took action against them, because their owners were close to power corridors but every time poor people have been targeted.
Tehsildar Ramkot Rahul Basotra said that anti-encroachment drive has been going on across the state and under such drive, illegal kiosks and other encroachments have been removed from various areas.
He further said that there were some complaints against some shopkeepers also, who had encroached vast areas in front of their shops, which were also removed.
On being asked if there was any proposal to rehabilitate them, he replied in negative. |
