Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 6: The heavy snowfall in Shopian town has dealt a significant blow to local shopkeepers, impeding business operations as snow clearance efforts have left many shopfronts blocked with mounds of snow, making them inaccessible to customers.
The shopkeepers expressed their mounting frustration with the snow removal operations conducted by the local municipality. They said they are particularly aggrieved by the practice of depositing cleared snow from the main thoroughfares onto the roadsides and side walks.
This approach not only inconveniences pedestrians but also results in a significant accumulation of snow in front of shops, effectively doubling the challenge for these businesses.
Expressing their frustration, the shopkeepers at the main market of Shopian said that the entrances of their shops have been blocked, hindering customer movement. Furthermore, they said, the sliding snow from rooftops has compounded the issues, effectively barricading the entrances of numerous shops and compelling many to cease operations.
Atta Mohammad, a shopkeeper at Goal Chowk, shared his plight: “Without waiting for the officials, I took the shovel and cleared half of the snow. However, not everyone was able to do so, adversely affecting their businesses.”
Moreover, the piled-up snow poses significant risks to the safety of customers and passersby, increasing the likelihood of slips and falls. One shopkeeper from Jamia Masjid Market voiced his concern. “We have been paying rent and other fee to the municipality, but they fail to clear the shopfronts and walkways,” he said.
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