Early Times Report
Jammu, July 3: Recent decision of the Jammu and Kashmir Government to end the 149-year old Durbar Move practice has come as a rude shock for the business fraternity in Jammu. They are demanding that the administration should revisit its decision and take traders into confidence.
President of Residency Road shopkeepers association Kunal Chada, while talking to Early Times said, “The government is stating that it has saved Rs 200 crore by scrapping the practice of shifting Durbar from Srinagar to Jammu and vice-versa. There is no harm in saving the money but the helmsmen before taking such an important decision should have thought about the traders in Jammu region. If the government remains adamant on its decision, the entire Jammu is set to face a huge business loss.”
He said, “Everyone is aware of the fact that business in Jammu used to thrive during the winter season as people from Kashmir used to throng the region. From small to a big businessman everyone was directly connected to the people from Kashmir visiting Jammu.”
“Kashmiris who used to come here took houses on rent in different areas, used to make purchases and from a street vendor to a big showroom owner everyone used to get benefitted. This decision will have an adverse affect on the business community.”
General Secretary of Residency Road Shopkeepers Association, Tejinder Singh said, “The decision to call off Durbar Move could be right from the government’s perspective but for a common man in Jammu it’s a loss. The Covid has not left us for the past two years and now we were pinning hope on making up some losses in > Decision conveyed through social media
> J&K admin needs to reconsider order
> Winter used to be peak business season
> Decline in footfall will affect everyone from street vendor to a big showroom owner
> New order big setback for Jammu
Singh said, “We haven’t decided to call for any strike but if Jammu Chamber of Commerce takes any decision, our association will back them.”
He said that if the decision is not reconsidered, Jammu traders will suffer huge losses. “Many of us have taken loans from banks and are paying huge interest. During six months Estate Department used to hire private hotels for accommodating Durbar Move employees but now these hotels too will lose the revenue. Business in Jammu has been pushed to lowest ebb.”
“It’s unfortunate that people come to know about such decisions through social media and what’sup groups. The people at the helm should have taken the business community into confidence before taking such a major decision,” he added.
Another businessman, Vinka Ananth said, “Jammu is directly dependent on Kashmir and no one can deny this fact. The tourists stay here for a night and then move towards Srinagar whatever money they have they spend in Kashmir. Six months of Durbar Move used to be a peak season for the businessmen in Jammu as Kashmiris used to come here and stay. They used to spend money and it helped every section of the society.”
He said, “The Durbar Move practice was started by the Maharaja 150-years ago for a reason. Without looking at the pros and cons the practice has been called off. One thing is for sure that if the decision is not rolled back it will be a big setback for Jammu.” | 