By Arfat Khan
Jammu: Unlicensed rehries selling ice creams of established brands and fruits are flourishing on roads under a well knit nexus falling under the jurisdiction of Trikuta Nagar police station.
Mushroomed on road side, scores of illegal rehries near CBI office Jammu has led to massive haphazard parking of cars on road thus endangering lives of passing by motorists besides obstructing smooth flow of traffic movement.
At any given point of time, there is mess prevailing on this road complained Dr. Jyoti Sharma. “I wonder, how the concerned police, municipality and traffic officials are unaware of this illegal rehries operation which is causing massive lawlessness on road, she added.
The Jammu Municipality Corporation sometimes ago has created specified ‘Rehri Zones’ in different areas of the city. The step was taken owing to shrinking of roads on account of encroachments by rehries owners. As part of rehabilitation, a special vast stretch located opposite to Gandhi Nagar Church was created for the operation of these rehries with proper license issued by JMC.
However, despite creation of ‘Rehri Zone’ scores of rehries still exists after encroaching upon roads with impunity near Gurudwara in Gandhi Nagar, outside CBI office Jammu, Green belt park road and outside railway station.
Interestingly, a vast fleet of rehries belonging to the various brands of ice creams also operating in these areas without any valid JMC licensed.
Rishpal Singh, Joint Commissioner JMC while admitting that there is vast fleet of rehries operating without valid license in Jammu city said “It’s a serious loss of revenue to the JMC authorities” No illegal rehri vendor can operate on road and even concerned SHO is empowered to take action against the offenders, he added
It’s learnt that these ice creams vendors operate in these mentioned areas through a middle man who ensure smooth liaison between the ice cream companies and different government agencies. This is a lavish deal, said an officer of JMC preferring anonymity.
JKGN team interacted with number of ice cream vendors and surprisingly none of them possessed valid rehri license to operate in the area. “None from municipality or police harassed us as our babu ji (contractor/middlemen) take care of everything” said one of the ice cream vendor.
Similar views were expressed by fruit vendors who have been running their business on road outside Bahu Plaza and around railway station. “Kuch lug adhikaryoun kei naam bhi fruit lei jatey hein” said a fruit vendor in hesitation.
Everyday number of high ranking officers belonging to JMC, Police and Traffic department daily ferry on this road twice a day but surprisingly everyone turns a nelson eye towards the mess caused by these vendors on roadside falling under Trikuta Nagar Police station, said Prof Anirudh Gupta. There is something fishy pertaining to operation of these blue eyed rehries on this road, he added.
Much to our surprise three days ago when JKGN shares this detail with Sunaina Mehta, Secretary JMC, while expressing ignorance about these rehries she said “Share picture, action indeed will follow”. However, despite lapse of three days loud words of Ms Secretary fails to make commotion on road.
On being contacted Ramesh Kumar, JMC commissioner asserted that there is rehri zone in Gandhi Nagar earmarked for vendors dealing in food, fruits and ice cream items. Ensuring strict action against those plying rehries on road outside CBI office Jammu, Green Belt Park Road and Railway station road, He said rehries operating after encroaching upon road posed accident threats to the passing by motorists and will not be allowed on roadside in any circumstances.