Srinagar: A food cart installed near the iconic ‘Ghanta Ghar’ at Lal Chowk was demolished by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) sleuths following protests by local shopkeepers against its presence.
Shopkeepers had objected to the cart’s installation, arguing against its placement in the busy commercial area. Some reportedly kept their establishments closed and threatened a shutdown until the structure was removed.
The cart owner, Lateef Ahmad, told ‘Kashmir Images’ that he had secured permission from Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) through the official e-tendering process and was supposed to pay Rs 15,000 as monthly rent.
He claimed to have invested around Rs 20 lakh in the setup and alleged that despite showing the relevant documents, SMC officials demolished the structure without even allowing him to shift it to another location.
“First they granted me permission and now they have demolished the cart. I showed them all the documents and requested them not to damage it, but nobody listened,” Ahmad said.
Ahmad further claimed that officials of Srinagar Smart City Limited were also present during the demolition.
The incident has raised questions over coordination between SSCL and SMC. Authorities are yet to publicly clarify the validity of the alleged allotment and the grounds on which the demolition was carried out.
