SRINAGAR: Amid the lockdown and declaration of certain areas as Red Zone by the administration, there are reports that the designated departmental store owners are not adhering to the guidelines set for their operations.
Assigned to deliver essentials at the doorstep, an innovative idea by the district administration Srinagar, a departmental store located near Mill Stop, Nowshehra has taken people for a ride, residents alleged.
Reports reaching the Kashmir Life newsroom suggest that the owner of the store is unwilling to deliver supplies at the doorstep, thereby violating the government orders.
Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Hawal, a red zone declared by the government had requested the store on the given numbers a few days ago for a few essential items including diapers for the children.
As alleged by Bashir, the order was taken and was promised to deliver the following day. “The person who attended the call assured us that the delivery will take place the next day as they are compiling the order from the area.”
The next day, the order did not arrive. When the call was made to the store, there was no response. This continued on the third day and today, the fourth day of order, the number was turned switched off, leaving the family in distress.
Bashir is not an isolated case. Another red zone area, Umar Colony in Lal Bazar too has the same crisis, courtesy non-compliance of orders from the store.
Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of the area while narrating his ordeal said, he had ordered few eatable items from the store, but it was denied on the pretext that order below a certain amount would not be taken. “I had a few requirements and called the store the next day the store was assigned by the government. But he denied delivering it at the doorstep.
However, Mushtaq added, the other store in Habbak, designated by the government came to the rescue of the family.
The residents of the vast area of Lal Bazar, Bot Kadal, Molvi Stop, Botshah Mohalla, Umar Colony, Kanitar, appealed the government to intervene.
When Kashmir Life talked to Syed Sajjad Qadri, the officer on special duty in DC office Srinagar and overlooking the distribution of essentials in the district, he confirmed to have received several complaints against the store. “We have received complaints against the store. We will take stern action against him for non-compliance of the orders,” he said and added by tomorrow the administration will have an alternative in the area.
