Traders of Downtown have expressed resentment against lack of basic amenities in Old City.
In a statement, chairman Shahr-e- Khaas traders coordination committee, Nazir Ahmad Shah, said despite reminders, authorities have failed to upgrade basic amenities in Downtown.
“Unscheduled power cuts and shortage of drinking water are taking a heavy toll on our business,” Shah said.
“Garbage mounds have taken sheen off the historic Shahr-e-Khaas. SMC has failed to lift the garbage before 9 am causing inconvenience to traders and locals. The problem has been compounded by unprecedented growth of stray dog population which has resulted in increasing number of dog bite cases,” he said.
The traders also decried lack of transport facilities to various areas in Downtown. “Despite assurances, authorities have also failed to provide parking places in Shahr-e-Khaas. In absence of parking facilities, there has been sharp decline in number of customers. It is ironical that historic Shahr-e-Khaas, which houses prominent religious places, has been neglected by the government,” Shah said.
“We urge deputy commissioner Srinagar Abid Rashid Shah, who is concerned over development of Shahr-e-Khaas, to look into the matter and direct the concerned departments to improve basic amenities in Downtown,” he added.