Poonch Bazar Areas in Shambles: Broken Roads, Encroachments, and Garbage Plague Residents
Harpreet singh
Poonch, August 16: Residents of Poonch are expressing growing frustration over the Municipal Council’s failure to address persistent issues of encroachments, damaged roads, and overflowing garbage, creating a hazardous and unhygienic environment in several bazar areas near Degree College Poonch.
Haji Market, Parade Park, Quila Bazar, and Main Bazar, crucial commercial hubs frequented by shoppers, patients visiting nearby hospitals, and students attending the college, are plagued by broken pathways, illegal encroachments, and piles of garbage. The situation has worsened over the years, despite repeated appeals to authorities and visits by senior officials.
The shopkeepers have extended their shops and Farris’ squeezing the main road making it difficult for the people to move with bikes etc. and vehicle owners are the worst affected.
The shopkeepers have placed their wares out on the roads making difficult for the shoppers or other people to move through the bazar, in Parade Park shops have been setup in open and on roads thus creating numerous problems for the people to move on the road.
Similarly, near the Degree college many shop owners have extended their shops illegally and placed their wares on road making people’s lives difficult.
People have appealed the Deputy Commissioner Poonch to take personal interest and visit their spots and act swiftly to ease the life of common people and remove illegal encroachments over the paths, roads, bazars etc in Hazi Market Parade Park Road, Main Market, College Road etc.
Residents allege that the Municipal Council conducts selective enforcement drives, targeting only poor Rehari walas (street vendors) and small vendors while turning a blind eye to influential encroachers who occupy prime spots with impunity. This has led to a sense of disillusionment among the public, who perceive a lack of fairness and accountability in the administration’s actions.
“For years, we have witnessed these encroachments grow, while our complaints fall on deaf ears,” lamented a local shopkeeper. “The authorities seem to be protecting influential individuals while targeting the poor and marginalized.”
Adding to their woes, residents complain of irregular garbage collection, with the municipality allegedly prioritizing certain areas while neglecting others. This has resulted in overflowing garbage bins and heaps of waste accumulating on streets, posing health hazards and creating an unhygienic environment. The use of contaminated water further exacerbates the situation, leading to a rise in waterborne diseases.
When contacted for a response, Chief Executive Officer of Municipal Council Poonch Mohd. Yaqoob acknowledged the issue of encroachments and stated that the municipality conducts weekly drives to remove illegal structures, particularly those belonging to unlicensed Rehari walas.
He explained that efforts are underway to identify suitable locations for the Rehari walas, some of whom operate under the PM SVAnidhi Scheme, to ensure their livelihoods are not affected while also addressing the issue of encroachment.
“We are committed to intensifying our drives and resolving the concerns of the people,” assured Mohd. Yaqoob. “We will work towards finding a solution that addresses both the needs of the vendors and the larger public.”
However, residents remain sceptical, demanding concrete action and a fair and consistent approach to enforcement. They urge the Municipal Council to prioritize the well-being of the community and ensure a clean, safe, and accessible environment for all.
The situation in Poonch highlights the challenges faced by many towns in Jammu and Kashmir, where inadequate infrastructure, encroachments, and sanitation issues plague urban areas, impacting the quality of life for residents. The Municipal Council Poonch faces a crucial test, needing to demonstrate its commitment to serving the public by addressing these concerns and creating a more liveable and sustainable urban environment.
