Minister for Education Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday asked the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to go for allotment of shops to dislocated shopkeepers at Hazuri Bagh Srinagar in a time bound manner.The Minster made these remarks during a meeting chaired by him to review allotment of shops and kiosks to beneficiaries by Srinagar Municipal Corporation at Hazuri Bagh.Bukhari observed that the shopkeepers constitute an integral and legitimate part of the urban retail trade and distribution system for daily necessities of the general public thus need to be rehabilitated in a dignified and time bound manner.He said that this section of traders have helped the Government in combating unemployment and poverty and it is duty of the State to protect the right of these micro-entrepreneurs to earn an honest living.However, the Minister stressed on regulation of street vendors by earmarking restriction-free, restricted and no-vending zones in cities for smooth flow of traffic, pedestrians, cleanliness and maintenance hygiene in the city.
The Minister was informed that 185 shops constructed for the shopkeepers who got dislocated due to the beautification drive in different areas of Srinagar more so in close vicinity of Lal Chowk are vacant.Bukhari asked the SMC to evolve strategic mobility planning to redress pedestrian and transport problems in Srinagar.During the meeting, the delegation of beneficiaries put forward the issues they face in the allotment of shops and requested the Minister to look into the matter.While assuring the beneficiaries that their issues will be addressed soon, the Minister directed the SMC officials to verify the allotments papers and other concerned documents of the beneficiaries for their consideration for the allotment of shops.He directed the officials to expedite the work and solve the problems faced by beneficiaries by June 15.The meeting was attended by Commissioner SMC Dr Shafqat Khan and other concerned officials.