Lal Chowk is making another ugly tale. Some hidden and hideous hands in the government, pursuing vested interests, are at work to defeat the public concerns. It became obvious the moment work on the “beautification” of historic Lal Chowk was started.   This newspaper sometime back had expressed its concern over the shady deal of leasing out a piece of prime land under gutted down structure of Palladium cinema to an influential family from outside the state for constructing a shopping mall. The deal was not seen just as leasing out a piece of land in a prime location to some non-state subject family against paltry lease money but insulting the heroic struggle of people of the state against monarchial and feudal system.  The place had earned its name, Lal Chowk (Red Square), not after a place in Moscow but for the sacrifices offered by the people of the state for undoing the humiliating sale deed where under a nation had been sold like merchandise by the colonial British. For being witness to innumerable historic events the place had assumed symbolic significance for people of the state. The paper had also tried to appeal to the conscience of men in authority   to develop the place in keeping with its historical relevance by erecting a monument dedicated to the martyrs of 13 July 1931, and beyond; who have laid their lives for the cherished cause. It had been also suggested that in keeping with its importance for the contemporary Kashmir history a committee of eminent historians, writers and renowned artists should be constituted for conceptualizing the development of the place and some eminent architects having an understanding of socio-cultural ethos of Kashmir should be appointed for drawing the plans of its development. The Chief Minister’s quick   response to public concern about the place and announcing some funds for its development as an emblem of people’s struggle for their political rights was overwhelmingly hailed. It was seen as a gesture of respect towards the sacrifices offered by the people of the state. But the authorities in power, instead of planning development in keeping with the historical importance of the place, have started work on an ill-conceived plan that would not only deface it, but further narrow it down. The plan is going to choke the main artery of the city and convert it into a slum.  The reports have been suggesting that the plans for utilizing the funds earmarked for the development of the place have been made with an ulterior motive to facilitate construction of a multiplex at the site of the Palladium cinema. The whole exercise is being undertaken with objective of clinching the deal of handing over the prime location to a private party. The deal had failed earlier because of public outcry and media reports and in 2005, the land was allotted to the Srinagar Development Authority for construction of a parking lot but the idea was again abandoned after the new government took over and renewed the proposal of constructing a shopping mall at the site on 50:50 basis with the same influential business family from outside the state. On the face of it the ongoing narrowing of Lal Chowk and landscaping of main road that would end future widening is being done to facilitate the “Palladium deal” would be glaring example of corruption. It in fact would be a litmus test for government’s commitment to end corruption in the state. On the one side government has been contemplating of creating an all powerful and independent anti-corruption commission in the state and on the other side it is premium on corruption by encouraging deals that in full public knowledge are not honest. Chief Minister, if he really means to fight corruption shall have to fully throw himself in the fight and make a beginning by defeating the nefarious design of the vested interests in the government even if the ‘deep-pocketed’  happens to be his own party man. Since the flawed development plan of the area has drawn flak the government needs not shy away from shelving the ongoing landscaping plan and draw a fresh one in consonance with the importance of the place.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST