JAMMU, Oct 6: Mission Statehood Jammu Kashmir president Sunil Dimple, along with traders, on Tuesday led a protest demonstration at Janipur High Court Road against the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), alleging harassment of traders through notices, sealing of shops and removal of business goods.
The protesters raised objections to alleged action against traders in several parts of Jammu city, including Moti Bazaar, Gandhi Nagar, Sawari Mandi, Janipur and Roop Nagar. They also opposed the proposed construction of a flyover connecting Amphalla, New Plot, Janipur, Roop Nagar and Bantalab.
Addressing the protesters, Dimple alleged that traders and shopkeepers were already facing financial difficulties due to declining business and said that repeated notices, sealing of shops and removal of goods were adding to their problems. He urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to direct the JMC to stop what he described as harassment and demolition drives in the city’s markets.
Dimple also demanded that the government make the detailed plan and blueprint of the proposed flyover publicly available, particularly regarding the proposed widening of the road and the rehabilitation of affected shopkeepers and residents. He claimed that thousands of traders and a large number of residential properties could be affected by the project.
He further alleged that government departments were being approached for various No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and clearances related to the project, including arrangements concerning sewerage and electricity infrastructure. He questioned the manner in which the project was being pursued and sought greater public consultation.
Raising broader civic concerns, Dimple alleged that the Amphalla–Janipur High Court Road was facing problems related to damaged roads, overflowing sewerage, open manholes and leaking water pipes. He also claimed that streetlights and traffic signals at several locations were not functioning properly.
Dimple demanded the construction of an exclusive four-way circular ring road connecting Amphalla, Manda, Janipur High Court Road, Roop Nagar, Bantalab, Kot Bhalwal and Akhnoor as an alternative to the proposed infrastructure plan.
He also raised concerns over door-to-door waste collection, alleging that several load carriers were not functioning effectively and were failing to regularly collect waste from residential areas.
Dimple warned that if the alleged harassment of traders continued, the traders would launch a mass agitation. He also demanded the appointment of local officers, including Municipal Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and senior IAS and IPS officers in Jammu and Kashmir.
The protest was attended by several market representatives, including Deepak, Manjeet Anand, Rupesh Bhat, Sachin Soi, Sat Sharma, Rajesh Kumar, Shiv Kumar, Swarn Lal Verma and Narender Kumar, besides other traders and supporters.