JMC carries out demolition drive, shopkeepers cry foul

Jammu, July 1

The Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) today carried out an anti-encroachment drive in Janipur and New Plot areas here, even as a section of shopkeepers alleged that “no notice” was served to them by the JMC prior to the drive.

The civic body, aided by officials from various departments, including the police, dismantled several illegal structures, including shops during the drive.

“No notice was served to us before the JMC went ahead with its selective anti-encroachment drive. The drive was against some small-time shopkeepers. If officials of the JMC are really serious why did they not touch the big shops,” Sham Lal, a local shopkeeper, alleged.

“Neither was I served any notice nor informed in advance, otherwise I could have saved my belongings,” another shopkeeper claimed.

Jammu Municipal Corporation Commissioner Mandeep Kour, however, said the demolition decision was taken following the ruling of the High Court to remove all such illegal constructions in the city.

“We are following the directions of the court and every illegal construction in the city would be removed. All the structures which had become hindrance to the movement of traffic here were removed today,” the JMC commissioner said. — PTI