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| Accusing state government of pursuing 'anti-trader' policy, Kashmir Economic Alliance threatens agitation in support of their demands | | Asks for punishment to SMC, SDA officials for violation of Master Plan | | Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Jan 15: Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) today threatened to launch an agitation against the ruling coalition dispensation in case the 'anti-trader' policy is not stopped by the government. The Alliance also accused the state government of backtracking from its commitment of constructing Sewerage Treatment Plants for hotels of Kashmir valley. Addressing a press conference here, KEA Chairman, Mohammad Yasin Khan said that state government has failed to address the genuine concerns of traders of Kashmir. He said the traders have been pushed to the wall and they can hit the roads anytime if the 'discriminatory' attitude is not kept at bay by the present dispensation."More than 70 percent of the revenue generated by the state comes from the taxes paid by traders of Kashmir valley. But when it comes to providing the facilities the state government scores a big blob. We have been knocking at doors but there has been no relief. If all goes like this then we will raise our voice in a strong manner," said Yasin.Yasin said the cabinet order passed by the government of constructing the STPs for hotels has not been implemented with hotels continuing to remain closed. He said that due to slackness from the government departments and agencies no review of Srinagar Master Plan has taken place over the past 25 years adding that traders can't be put to blame on this front."It is important that action is taken against the officials and higher ups of Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Srinagar Development Authority since they allowed constructions coming up in violation of Srinagar Master Plan. Sealing of hotels and commercial structures happened only in Kashmir valley. This amply proves the discriminatory character and attitude of the present state government," said Yasin. Referring to power crisis in Kashmir, Yasin said that Jammu & Kashmir is at par with states like Punjab and Delhi as far as power tariff is concerned, but as far as supply is concerned the state is far behind the other states of region. He said that there is no end to the power crisis with power cuts of eight hours in metered and 12-14 hours in non-metered areas respectively. He demanded action against the ministers and bureaucrats involved in the BOPEE-2012 mess.
KEA Chief Spokesman, Siraj Ahmad said that government has failed to bring in an ordinance as promised by them so that there is proper regulation of structures that have come up in the Srinagar city. He said that traders are un-necessarily being harassed for no fault of theirs adding that government wants to shift the blame on traders' community."The state government recently came out with an order that hotels having a capacity of 19 rooms can operate, but there is no word on hotels having capacity of more than 19 rooms.
If the government has promised to construct STPs and connect them with the hotels then why are they holding back? This has created confusion among the ranks of hoteliers and it may adversely affect the upcoming tourist season," said Siraj. |
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