Immigrant Kashmiri Pandits were running shops here for 30 years.
Bulldozers were used on shops of Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. Jammu Development Authority (JDA) demolished a dozen shops of Kashmiri Pandits located near Muthi Camp in Jammu city. These shops were built by displaced Kashmiri Pandits about three decades ago.
People say that the shops were demolished without giving any notice. We are back to the 90's. People have been protesting for the last three days. He is demanding action against JDA officials. JDA says that the shops were built on their land.
Commissioner Arvind Karwani visited the site and assured the affected families that new shops would be built for them. He said that JDA has issued a tender to build a shopping complex in Muthi Camp Phase-2. Soon shops will be built and given to the affected people.
Immigrant Kashmiri Pandits were running shops here for 30 years.
When I came here, I was young. Now I am old. What will I do?” Shop owner Ashok Raina said, “The shop was demolished within half an hour without any prior information or notice. We were told that we would be rehabilitated but no government official came to see our plight. We were on the road and it felt like we were back in the 90s.
He said that my shop was here for 30 years. The day the camp was built, I opened my shop. The then commissioner also supported us. My household was run by the shop. My children have studied with that money. But now I have no income. Ashok says, when I came here, I was young. Now I am old. What will I do?
Soon ten shops will be given to shopkeepers Migrant Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner Arvind Karwani said, the shops were built on JDA land. Which JDA demolished. We do not have much information because JDA is a separate agency.
He said that we have already issued tender for Mutthi Phase-2 migrant camp. Soon ten shops will be built and allotted to these shopkeepers. Shops will be given to all eligible people including those who have shops since 1990s.
Have been fighting for this for the last 3 years Anil Bhan, president of Muthi Migrant Camp, said, we have been fighting for this for the last 3 years. There was a ban on this. JDA was prohibited from demolishing old shops until new shops were built. The construction of EWS colony here has been approved, but the work will start after 6 months. The Relief Commission has promised that new shops will be built, but no official from the state government has come here.
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Graphics Source: NavJivanIndia | VaskarAssets | NavBharatTimes
