SRINAGAR Srinagar Municipal Corporation has clandestinely decided not to touch road side vendors in any part of Kashmir capital Srinagar. The reason behind this decision is to save and swell vote bank, insiders reveal.
A couple of Ward Officers on condition of anonymity told news agency CNS that they are unable to initiate any action against those shopkeepers and road side vendors who have illegally occupied roads and footpaths. These Ward Officers categorically told this Reporter that there are clear cut instructions from the Councilors that road side vendors should not be removed from any part of the city.
These vendors are the vote bank for these Councilors. The Corporate culture has started showing its color. Everywhere city footpaths and roads have been occupied and we are hapless to initiate action against them. These Councilors feel only vendors can win them elections. It is really sorry state of affairs that these Councilors are encouraging encroachment for their vested gains, said a Ward Officer.
One of the Ward Officers even claimed that the then IGP Traffic Basant Rath was removed because he had clearly conveyed to Councilors that they cant encourage corrupt practices.
There will certainly be some drives but those will be only to hoodwink the common people. The reality is that the hands of Ward Officers have been tied by Srinagar Municipal Corporation.
Pertinently, Kashmir capital Srinagar have been witnessing frequent traffic jams due to these roads side vendors who are on prowl everywhere. They have occupied every nook and cranny of city including Airam Kadal, Hari Singh High Street, Maharaja Bazar, Mehjoor Nagar, Batamaloo, Qamarwari, Soura, Khanyar, Dalgate, Lal Ded and so on.
A Ward Officer alleged that some of the Councilors are forcing them to sign Individual Household Latrine (IHHL) without any verification. How can we sign these applications without any verification? It is we people who have to answer before authorities, he said adding that one of the Councilors submitted over 150 applications asking us to provide latrine bathroom to his supporters. (CNS)
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 | |
