Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jammu, president Arun Gupta has expressed serious concern over the demolition of shops in the Satwari-Nai Basti area of Jammu city in connection with the ongoing highway expansion and infrastructure development works.
Gupta stated that the concerns emerged as the demolition was done without providing any kind of financial help to the affected shopkeepers and also written assurance to these shopkeepers by the concerned authorities.
On September 10 and 11, the Jammu Municipal Corporation demolished over 30 shops, kiosks for the road widening project.
“The demolition drive has caused immense hardship and distress among the business community. The affected shopkeepers have been displaced overnight and are facing severe financial hardship as most of the shopkeepers have taken loans from the banks and other financial institutions to run their business smoothly,” Jammu Chamber president said.
He maintained that while the Chamber understood the importance of infrastructure development and highway expansion, the interests and livelihoods of the business community could not be overlooked in the process.
“The demolition of these shops has completely disrupted the livelihood of several families. These are not merely structures; they are the source of income and sustenance for families who have been carrying on their businesses for decades. The manner in which the exercise has been carried out has sent a wrong message among the business community,” Arun Gupta pointed out.
“We are not aware whether the earmarked land for rehabilitation and resettlement of affected shopkeepers has been transferred to JMC or whether it will take some more time to complete the process. In case any formalities are pending, the same should be completed without any further delay so that the construction of the said complex is started and completed at the earliest,” he asserted.
Reference was to the rehabilitation and resettlement scheme approved by the Union Territory (UT) cabinet for the shopkeepers and kiosk owners affected by road widening in Nai Basti and Satwari Chowk.
CCI Jammu president, on behalf of the Chamber, requested the government to provide the suitable financial help to the affected shopkeepers to feed their families till they were allotted fresh shop sites and fully rehabilitated.
He appealed to the UT administration to immediately ensure that the affected shopkeepers were provided proper rehabilitation and an alternative means of carrying out their businesses.
