Srinagar, June 7: The meeting between shopkeepers and Asian Development Bank (ADB) team today ended in a dead lock as the shopkeepers refused to shift to newly constructed shopping complex after much persuasion by the ADB.
The shopkeepers’ delegation that met ADB team at Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) office at Dalgate said that they put an alternative proposal for their rehabilitation. The delegation demanded Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) parking lot or land of defunct DAV School at Jahangir Chowk along with permission to construct a shopping complex as per their choice.
“We told the ADB team that either give us at least 60 per cent monitory compensation as per present market value or give us government land at Jahangir Chowk, which SDA has turned into a parking lot, or land plot of defunct DAV school at Magarmal Crossing,” said Abdul Rouf, one of the shopkeeper.
The ERA told the shopkeepers that the department will spend more Rs 20 crore on the newly constructed shopping complex at Jahangir Chowk for its up gradation. But the shopkeepers rejected the ERA proposal and asked for SDA land or DAV school land and Rs 20 crore.
“We refused the concept of up gradation of the building because it looks like a store and it will remain so. We asked ERA to give this additional amount supposed to be spent for up gradation of complex to the shopkeepers so that they will construct the shopping complex of their own choice,” the shopkeepers said.
The shopkeepers said that they appealed ADB team not to release funds for the project until they are not properly rehabilitated. “We are not against the development and construction of flyover but not at a cost of bread and butter of our families,” they said.
After tough stand by the shopkeepers, the ERA officials said it is the court that will decide the future course of action. “Shopkeepers don’t want to shift to the shopping complex and let court decide about their rehabilitation,” ERA officials said.
Shopkeepers also said that ADB team head A Koneka has assured them every possible support and assured them that they will wait for their proper rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, top officials of ERA said that they are hopeful to start further work on the Rs 352-crore project, as the shopkeepers and ADB would come up with a proper solution.
The Asian Development Bank funded flyover was approved in October 2009 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had set three-year deadline to get the project completed, but the work on the flyover is yet to start as almost 387 shopkeepers and commercial establishments are demanding proper rehabilitation instead of their proposed rehabilitation in two complexes constructed at Rambagh and Jahangir Chowk.
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