Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Jan 30: The official apathy and lack of coordination have been the main cause of delay in shifting of Ware House, Nehru Market Jammu to its proposed site at Raya in Samba district.
Despite the announcement made by the Government a number of times regarding the shifting of Ware House to the outskirts of the Jammu city in view of the space crunch at its present location and selection of the site at Raya in Samba district, the proposal has not seen the light of the day due to official wrangles and lack of coordination among the various Government agencies.
This has led to a lot of resentment among the members of the business community, who were facing space crunch at Ware House as the business has grown manifold since the establishing of Ware House near Bikram Chowk by the then Prime Minister, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammed way back in 1962.
According to sources, the proposal of shifting the Ware House to its new place is likely to be delayed for more time due to official wrangles and lack of coordination among the different departments involved in the task.
Though JDA Vice Chairperson, Sarita Chauhan said that JDA is on the job and the land has already been identified at Raya in Samba district for shifting of Ware House but the initial delay was due to non completion of feasible study and collection of revenue documents. “It is now under the process and JDA is on the job.”
However the VC JDA did not give any time frame by which the Ware House is shifted to its new location.
She said prior to land acquisition the survey is to be done and formal process will be started after that.
However, Deputy Commissioner, Samba, Mubarak Singh said that no body from JDA has approached him for land record and once his office is approached in this regard it will make all papers ready within no time.
This revealed that a lot of confusion persisted on the Government level over the move which has resulted into constant delay in shifting of Ware House, a cherished demand of the Wholesale business community who faced many problems in trading their goods to other parts of the State from the present Ware House due to traffic chaos inside the premises as well as Bikram Chowk, sources said.
“The business community is facing a total space crunch as 15 by 20 feet space available to them is less than what is needed by a retailer at present. This has forced them to keep their goods in open,” said Naresh Gupta, general secretary Ware House Traders Association. This way many shopkeepers are put to heavy loss as many times their goods perish during Monsoon and winter rains, he added.
He said a wholesale dealer needs at least 50 feet by 50 feet space and there is a provision in big cities of shifting the Ware House or extending its space after every 20 years but in case of Jammu Ware House it was not done even after over 50 years of its establishment.
Besides having a business turnover of Rs 1500 crore to Rs 2000 crore, the Jammu Ware House pays Toll and other taxes to Government from Rs 100 to 200 crore every year, said Gupta. It is a biggest income generating business centre of the State, which also provides employment to 2000 laborers daily, he added.
But, the sad State of affairs of one of the largest wholesale business hubs of the State has become worrisome for trading community who have sought immediate intervention of Chief Minister in the matter.
The traders in Ware House are presently facing many other problems from insanitation to power crisis which has also created many impediments in the business. Presently power is supplied to the Ware House from Belicharana feeder and despite 100 percent metering and load revision in the Ware House no separate line has been sanctioned till date.
Moreover the dispensary which was also functioning in the area has been shifted without the knowledge of the Ware House traders representatives and the laborers are facing hardships to get medicare facilities.
Supporting the views of Mr Gupta, president Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CC&I), Y V Sharma accused the Government of not keeping its promise in this regard. There is lack of will on the part of Government in shifting Ware House to its proposed site, he added.
He said that though Finance Minister has made announcement various times regarding shifting of Ware House but noting in practical was done by Government in this regard till date.
While stressing on creation of space, he said, there is lot of unemployment and the fourth generation does not get space in Ware House and immediate need is to provide the new space to Ware House traders.
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