Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 2: The National Conference’s provincial vice president for Kashmir, Ahsan Pardesi, voiced strong opposition today against the Government’s decision to cancel the proposed sports stadium and community center in the Athwajan area of Srinagar to establish an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) campus.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Naw e Subh, Srinagar, Pardesi expressed serious concerns over the government’s abrupt change in plans. He highlighted that the decision to replace the community-centric projects with an educational institution was made without consulting the local populace. He said this location, previously a stone quarry, now unexpectedly features a board indicating the establishment of an IIM campus. “A delegation of prominent residents from Athwajan and Pandrethan met me, seeking justice. In 2016, the stone quarry business in the Athwajan area was abruptly halted, leaving many people jobless,” he said.
Pardesi further elaborated that in 2021, the government proposed the construction of a sports stadium and community center to benefit the local community. “The locals were thrilled about this decision. However, the recent installation of an IIM campus board has left them dismayed. If the government intends to build the IIM campus here, they must explain what happened to the earlier plans,” he said.
He stressed that the youth of the area have a right to the land, which they already use for sports activities. “We urge the government to reconsider and relocate the IIM campus elsewhere, allowing the community to retain their promised amenities,” he said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
