JAMMU: Former minister and Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Working President Raman Bhalla on Monday sought a special compensation and rehabilitation package for traders whose shops were gutted in a fire at Shiv Market near Jammu Railway Station on Sunday evening.
Bhalla, accompanied by senior Congress leaders, visited the fire-ravaged market and interacted with affected shopkeepers to assess the damage and hear their concerns.
He said the government should take immediate measures to help traders recover their losses and restore their livelihoods, claiming that property and merchandise worth crores of rupees had been destroyed in the blaze.
Bhalla urged the government to announce adequate compensation for all affected shopkeepers and sought financial assistance from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
He called for a comprehensive rehabilitation plan, including assistance for reconstruction of damaged shops, and said administrative formalities should not delay the resumption of business activities.
The Congress leader also urged the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) to immediately renew the leases of affected shopkeepers, saying uncertainty over their commercial premises could hamper reconstruction and recovery.
During the interaction, shopkeepers claimed that more than 30 shops and business establishments had been completely gutted, leaving several traders facing an uncertain future.
The affected traders also raised concerns over the alleged delay in the arrival of adequate firefighting equipment. They claimed that the deployment of smaller fire tenders had hampered efforts to control the blaze and contributed to the extensive damage.
They sought a proper assessment of losses, immediate financial assistance and timely commencement of reconstruction work.
Bhalla called for a time-bound relief and rehabilitation mechanism, saying the affected traders needed concrete assistance to rebuild their businesses and regain their livelihoods.
