Jammu: The ongoing anti-encroachment drives in different parts of Jammu city being conducted by the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) have generated a sense of resentment among the trading community.
Traders operating in different markets of the city while expressing their annoyance over frequent and ‘haphazardly’ conducted anti-encroachment drives said that the JMC authorities are unnecessarily harassing the shopkeepers.
Shopkeepers alleged that as and when an anti-encroachment drive is being conducted by the JMC officials, they seize their items recklessly and carry out the whole exercise in a chaotic manner which is ruining their businesses.
Several shopkeepers of City Chowk, Purani Mandi, Moti Bazar, Kachi Chawni, Exchange Road and Pacca Danga areas where the anti-encroachment drives were carried out in the last few days said that the JMC staff behaves in a high-handed manner and threaten traders.
While opposing the anti-encroachment drive of the JMC conducted yesterday in Purani Mandi and City Chowk areas, the shopkeepers shuttered down their shops in protest and raised slogans against the Jammu Municipal Corporation.
Alleging bias, the shopkeepers later also blocked the entry near Super Bazaar by staging a sit-in dharna.
“They lift some of the articles kept just outside the shops for display purposes without even giving a warning to the shopkeepers. They don’t even issue prior notices to us. The drives being carried out are being labeled as a part of developing Jammu as a smart city which in reality has become a ‘bimar’ city due to such thoughtless drives,” said several shopkeepers.
A large number of vendors and shopkeepers, who run small trades, said that they are the worst sufferers as they are caught between earning an honourable livelihood and anti-encroachment drives.
“It is a pity that the authorities do not allow us to earn a livelihood. Where will we go? Our trades are getting affected because customers don’t stay back in the markets when these drives are conducted. If they keep harassing us, we will lose our source of income,” they said.
In case the issue is not resolved, an emergency meeting would be held to chalk out the future course of action, they said, adding that if necessitated the shutdown will also be observed.
