Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 4: Ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir Government’s second budget, the Traders Federation Ware House-Nehru Market today put forth a series of demands, urging the Omar Abdullah-led government to address long-pending issues concerning Jammu city and its economy.
Addressing a press conference at the Federation Office, Deepak Gupta, president of the Federation, highlighted the problems faced by traders of the old-age Warehouse-Nehru Market, established nearly 70 years ago as a grain mandi and now supporting livelihoods of the fourth generation.
He said traders are facing acute shortage of space for storage, leading to damage of goods due to exposure to rain and sunlight and causing losses worth lakhs every year. He demanded allotment of land near Jammu city for construction of godowns and a dedicated budgetary provision for the same.
On tourism, Gupta said Jammu’s economy is largely dependent on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and Shri Amarnath Ji Yatras, but only a small fraction of pilgrims spend time in Jammu city. With the Amarnath Yatra likely to be routed via Sidhra in the coming years, he stressed fast-tracking tourism projects with adequate budgetary support.
Welcoming the boating initiative introduced by Jammu Smart City Limited on the Tawi River, he demanded that it be made permanent. He also sought proper promotion of the Peer Kho-Bahu Fort ropeway and nearby tourist destinations such as Mansar-Surinsar, Purmandal-Uttarwahini, Sudhmahadev-Mantalai and Jia Pota Ghat at Akhnoor.
Emphasizing pilgrim tourism, Gupta called for development and promotion of religious sites like Purmandal, Mantalai and Peer Kho. Citing the Khatu Shyam temple in Akhnoor, he said proper promotion could attract thousands of devotees.
He further demanded development of sports infrastructure, including an IPL-standard stadium, creation of new commercial hubs to support MSMEs and IT ventures, planned housing colonies through the Housing Board, and establishment of a National Law University in Jammu.
Dheeraj Mahajan, senior vice president of the Federation, Vishal Gupta, vice president, Abhimanyu Gupta, general secretary, Rahul Gupta, secretary, Nitin Mahajan, cashier, Sham Lal Gupta, ex vice president and Rajesh Bhagotra, president Sugar Association, were also present.
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