Hijacking ‘Yellow Line’ initiative of Jammu Municipal Corporation, the traders choose to stand with incorrigible encroachers which in unison set to transform entire Jammu city into a hell where the later only wants to see their greed flying high. The JMC drive was not launched in a jiffy and it’s an outcome of a well thought-out plan. The Urban Local Body is regularly receiving complaints from general public who are forced to walk with distress on shrinking space due to rampant encroachment upon footpaths and roads by greedy shopkeepers. By adding oil over the fire, bunch of crook bussinesmen have further emboldened nefarious designs of encroachers.
There is no denying the fact that by stalling the ‘Yellow Line’ drive through stage managed uproar, the traders body- The Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries evidently flaunts it’s ignorance about the fast changing dynamics of urban life, ills lurking around the congested markets and the corrective measures needed on priority before this undesirable situation took an ugly turn for everyone of us. In the current situation instead of extending their hands for larger interest of people and society, the JCCI sadly prefers to play role of spoilsport by opposing the citizens friendly initiative of JMC. In the same breath, the traders are seasonal businessmen and needs no special class room tutorials to make them understand that unlike lawless Jalalbad province of Afghanistan they are part of a City of Temple which is selected by Union Government for galvanizing as Smart City. Moreover, no law abiding and well discipline citizen of the country favor or tend to display wares for sale by encroaching upon footpath and roads as much as five feet beyond their shops to obstruct free movement of pedestrians. It’s considered as unlawful activity and needs to be dealt strictly in accordance with law of the land. The office bearers of JCCI need to play it’s postive role for overall development of Jammu city and avoid creating obstacles at the behest of a lobby who earned mastery in violating building bylaws.
The protesting traders must ponder seriously that in India urbanization is growing rapidly and cities are probably to swell to 600 million by 2030. More alarming, a study by Mckinsey in 2018 reported that in the coming 15 years around 200 million people will transit from rural to urban areas in India. This change will be enormous having considerable impact on urban dynamics which warrants a timely committed planning to enhance quality of life for citizens through its urban development programs. Enforcing discipline among shopkeepers as well as pungent action against violators of building bylaws thus become inevitable part of improving the quality of life under smart city development initiative. In such a scenario choosing to remain indifferent towards the growing menace of encroachments which will further create waste management, traffic congestion, etc will only aggravate problems around us. Thus the situation demands healthy participation of traders as part of solution to problems which are very much visible with our naked eyes around us. The gravity of problem and encroachments by shopkeepers in almost every nook and corner of city can very well be gauged from the fact that during my childhood, I used to ride handmade bearing wooden cart along with gang of my friends. Starting from Panjthirthi, our cart keep moving smoothly while passing from Pacca Danga, Jain Bazar, Link Road, Lakhdhata Bazar, Srajaan Dhi Dhakhi, Purani Mandi, Rajinder Baazar and city chowk without any obstacles in our merry go round trip. Touching 50, now l observed, one need loads of patience while walking through these bazaars where roads are squeezed due to ruthless encroachment by shopkeepers. Similar is the fate of roads in areas like Gandhi Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Trikuta Nagar, Channi Himmat which were developed as planned housing colonies of Jammu city. Removing encroachment from these areas has been further compounded by the Pharis and markets associations which always favours prevalence of chaos for their vested interests. Surprisingly, in well planned Sainik Colony encouraged by one JMC councillor pharis gang established around 10 kiosks after encroaching upon 15 feet space along roadside in sector E. Perhaps, this Councillor draws inspiration from BJP leaders who are running Rehari/Pharis Rackets in old city areas like Rani Park, Purani Mandi, Indira Chowk, Patel Bazar etc. Our elected councilors of JMC should wake up from deep slumber and exhibit their leadership skills for educating the agitating shopkeepers instead of acting as fence sitters. They are representing general public not a bunch of crooked shopkeepers.
Equally, the civil society members and media also played their desired role and counter the malicious propaganda of stubborn road encroacher /traders against the civic body-JMC by presenting things with facts. How long conscious ridden activists like Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmad, Prof. S.K.Bhalla, Mr. Sukesh C Khajuria and Mr. Balvinder Singh will keep raising their voice against various ills prevailing in the society. It’s high time, everyone among us wake up and raise our hands unitedly against the crooked unions. Least but not last, the Mayor of Jammu Municipal Corporation instead of adopting invisible posture in this crucial time must rise to the occasion and clear his stand on encroachment in city markets. Our Mayor needs to draw inspiration from Mr. Junaid Matoo, Mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation, who dare to realise the offending shopkeepers of Srinagar that roads are only meant for motorists and pedestrians. The traders of Jammu city have history of protesting the good initiatives of administration. In late 90s, when late Shri Jag Mohan Malhotra known by the monoym Jagmohan was the Governor of J&K, they also resisted the move of administration to convert vast piece of encroached land at Moti Bazar area into park which was virtually turn into breeding ground of disease by the encroachers. Brushing aside the tricks and uproar of habitual encroachers, the late Shri Jagmohan built a beautiful Rani Park where today the young, old and children spend their healthy time. Current mess around this park is the only undesired contribution of our so called trade union leaders.
Rest, the JCCI and shopkeepers have right to protest and present their point but bunch of protesting traders have no right to sabotage initiative which is launched to mitigate sufferings of general public in the city of temples. Rule of law is supreme and the state administration must ensure implementation of Yellow Line in letter and spirit for the betterment of Awaam and future generations.