Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 4: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) today sealed four shops operating as unauthorized workshops for causing disruptions to vehicular movement on the busy exchange road here.
An order of SMC said that the decision followed a complaint received by the Governor’s Grievance Cell about encroachment on the main road in Barbarshah due to an unauthorized workshop, “A complaint was lodged with the Lieutenant Governor’s Grievance Cell (vide No. 999003734983) regarding encroachment on the main road of Barbarshah, where an unauthorized workshop was causing serious inconvenience to the public, traffic, and pedestrians,” the order reads. Click here to watch video
The order further said that Ghulam Oadir Sheikh, the owner of the workshop, was conducting repairs of vehicles on the roadside, leading to significant traffic congestion. The SMC Enforcement Wing investigated the matter and issued a notice to Sheikh, instructing him to refrain from repairing vehicles on the main road. “While a notice was served to the shop owner (vide No. SMC/W-2/885-91, dated: 19.09.2023) directing him not to encroach on the main road during vehicle repairs, he failed to comply,” the order said.
Subsequently, the order reads, that a showcase notice for sealing the business unit was issued, giving Sheikh seven days to respond. However, no reply was received, indicating a lack of defense against the violations of Municipal laws. “Therefore, given the facts and circumstances, the business unit in question is hereby sealed under the J&K Municipal Corporation Act 2000 & J&K Unified Building Bye-Laws, 2021. The business unit is placed under the Superdari with the Station House Officer Police Station Ward No. 02, SMC,” the order said.
In response, Ghulam Oadir Sheikh argued that the SMC did not provide sufficient time for him to present his case. He emphasized that the closure of his workshop adversely affects the livelihoods of poor workers employed there.
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