Srinagar: Traders at Hazratbal are aghast over the Waqf boards move to enhance rent of shops owned by the Waqf.
In a statement issued here, Meelad Shopkeepers Association Hazratbal, (MSA) alleged that without prior notice, the Waqf board has unnecessary hiked their rent. The trade body also said that the pathway of the shopping complex has been encroached at the behest of some Waqf board employees.
With the involvement of some Waqf employees, both the A and B shopping complexes opposite Sir Syed gate, Kashmir University has been encroached and both shopkeepers and customers have been since then facing problems, Chairman, MSA said.
The shopkeepers said that the Waqf has totally failed in their promise of renovating the washrooms and pathways despite taking advance money for the construction of the shopping complexes.
The board has hiked the rent of our shops without prior notice. How can we pay the rent when we were not given the assured facilities like tiling of floors, paths and complete fitting of bathrooms, Aijaz Ahmad, a shop owner said.
He said that many shops were robbed in the past and the time of construction the Waqf board had promised them round the clock security, a promise which was never fulfilled.
We approached the Vice Chairman Waqf and gave him a written representation under the letter head number of 3 of the association dated 3/6/2014, but to no avail, said Bilal Ahmad, another shopkeeper.
He said that the board should look into this serious matter and provide them basic facilities.
They should make the complexes encroachment free and provide facilities, than only we will pay the rent, the shopkeepers threatened.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
