Srinagar, Jan 16: The historic Jamia Market, Nowhatta in Shahr-e-Khaas, which had been a hub of commercial activities in the yesteryears, has been craving for life as successive regimes have failed to pay requisite attention towards the area, the traders complain.
 The issue has come to limelight again as the senior officials in the administration often visited the market in the past few days but till now haven’t seemingly done much. Apart from District Development Commissioner Baseer Ahmed Khan, the Divisional Commissioner Dr Asgar Hassan   Samoon visited the area many times and spoke to the traders body there. Still the demands of the traders remain as such.
 The market which surrounds the historic Jamia Masjid is facing problems at various fronts including shortage of parking lot, improved drainage and other civic issues.
 The traders said the previous regime had got some houses relocated to pave way for the parking facility. Even though the houses which were coming under the proposed plan were removed, the site wasn’t developed into parking lot.
 Even though the Jamia Market aspires to remain open till late at night, particularly in the Holy month of Ramazan, darkness in the area due to defunct streetlights has been hindering the plans for the past several years.
 The area traders said the lights are defunct for years while the concerned have failed to repair them adding that heritage lampposts should be erected in the area.
 Besides the traders said there was a shortage of potable water points in the marketplace.
 They added: “Even though the marketplace is just next to the historic Jamia Masjid, still the authorities have failed to install proper dustbins.”
 The Jamia Market Traders Federation, President, Javed Ahmed Zargar, however, is optimistic of results this time.
 “The way senior official including Div Com and DC sahib visited the market many times in the recent past and spoke to us shows that they are serious towards development… We are looking ahead for the best,” Zargar said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 IST