KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
The J&K Government on Friday evening dismantled the ‘Makkah Market’ in the heart of Lal Chowk in summer capital.
Eye witnesses said that trucks of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) along with employees of SMC reached the ‘Makkah Market’ and dismantled the stalls before shifting them to SMC yard.
Police and CRPF personnel closed traffic on Residency Road leading to ‘Makkah Market’ – earlier SRTC Yard – opposite Biscoe School Shiekh Bagh in Lal Chowk.
Notably, the PDP led coalition government had in May allotted the SRTC yard to vendors who would install their stalls from Jahangir Chowk to TRC.
The road stretch was cleared off the vendors and in a quick solution to the problem of vendors, government allotted the same SRTC yard to them. At least 500 of them were rehabilitated.
The newly established flea market witnessed overnight development by way of macadamization and electrification.
However, on Friday, the SMC dismantled all the stalls.
“I have no information,” SMC Commissioner, Bashir Ahmad Khan, told Kashmir Life over phone. “Talk to Divisional Commissioner (about the matter),” he said and hung up the call.
When contacted, MLA Amira Kadal, Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari said, “I have no information but I will be back to you.”
Bukhari responded after fifteen minutes saying, “I contacted Divisional Commissioner Kashmir who too feigned ignorance about the matter.”
