SRINAGAR: Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma on Monday constituted a six-member committee to assess losses suffered by traders in the fire-hit Nehru Market Warehouse Complex and Shiv Market in Jammu and take up their demands for compensation and rehabilitation with the Government.
Sharma announced the committee after visiting the Warehouse Complex near Nehru Market, where a massive fire broke out on Sunday evening, gutting more than 15 shops and causing extensive damage to traders’ property.
He was accompanied by Member of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma, former J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina, MLAs Arvind Gupta, Yudhvir Sethi and Vikram Randhawa, and BJP general secretary Baldev Singh Billowria.
During the visit, Sharma met affected traders and expressed solidarity with them, saying that the losses had severely affected the livelihoods of several families. He demanded adequate and time-bound compensation beyond the routine relief norms, keeping in view the scale of the damage.
The committee has been constituted in consultation with BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma. It will be headed by MLA Sham Lal Sharma (Jammu North) and comprise Dr Narinder Singh, MLAs Yudhvir Sethi, Vikram Randhawa and Arvind Gupta, and party general secretary Baldev Singh Billowria.
The panel will assess the losses at both Nehru Market and Shiv Market, prepare a comprehensive list of affected traders and take up the matter with the Government to secure time-bound relief and rehabilitation.
It will also pursue the demand for allowing legislators to utilise their Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to provide financial assistance to the affected traders.
Pointing out that Jammu had witnessed two major market fires within a fortnight, Sharma said the incidents had affected businesses and the livelihoods of hundreds of families.
He said traders required concrete assistance rather than assurances and called for immediate measures to address their losses and prevent similar incidents.
Sharma also sought the deployment of additional fire tenders in the Warehouse area, including compact fire tenders and quick-response vehicles capable of accessing narrow market lanes. He said such equipment should be readily available near densely populated commercial areas of Jammu to improve emergency response.
As a long-term preventive measure, he urged the Government to identify and allot a separate site for warehouses and the storage of inflammable goods, away from crowded markets and residential areas.
Referring to the earlier fire at Shiv Market near the railway station, Sharma alleged that the National Conference Government had failed to provide clarity on relief for affected traders despite its assurance of extending all possible assistance.
He said no relief amount or timeline had been made public so far and urged the Government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to move beyond assurances and take concrete action.
Sharma reiterated that traders affected by both fires should receive immediate relief, fair compensation and proper rehabilitation, alongside stronger fire safety arrangements across Jammu’s commercial establishments.
