Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Oct 11: Traders and people of the town residing closer to the vicinity of old Poonch Fort today held strong protest demonstration against the State Tourism Department and refused to vacate the area.
Nearly 200 shopkeepers and 20 odd families residing within 100 ft area of the Poonch Fort assembled near the Fort complex and staged protest dharna. These people were served notices a few weeks earlier by the Tourism Development Authority which has started the work to maintain the historical monument. Today a large public notice was pasted at the Fort complex issuing warnings to the people residing within 100 feet of the complex to vacate the area as they are being rehabilitated somewhere else by the Government.
Reacting sharply over the notices, a large number of traders closed their establishments and started protest dharna near the Fort at around 8.30 am. The families residing in the area also joined them. Two petrol pumps also fall within the 100 feet area and they have also been served notices. They were shouting slogans against the Government and State Tourism authorities. They refused to vacate the shops and claimed that their business will be ruined. Moreover, Government was trying to snatch their livelihood.
They continued their protest up to 2 pm and suspended only after Additional DC, Poonch CEO Tourism Development Authority and some other senior officers from the district administration intervened and assured that a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner will be organized shortly and the matter would be resolved amicably. It it pertinent to mention here that Tourism Department intends to spend Rs 4 crore on the project for the preservation and maintenance of this historical fort to attract tourists. Some traders occupying the area and other encroachers are opposing the move. The Government has decided to involve social activists, community leaders and intellectuals of area to motivate the people.
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