Khokha Wallas who were allotted shops in PWD Rehabilitation Complex haven’t deposited Rs 2.40 lacs of total Rs 4.80 lacs till date when there was condition that if the total amount is not paid within fifteen days , they can’t have possession of shops
An outstanding rent of Rs 71800 in case of Khokha Wallas is still pending for the year up to March 2023 and likewise rent of shopkeepers on ground floor is also pending in lacs besides Rs 500 as monthly rent which was to be revised @ 15% after a spell of every three years hasn’t been revised till date
GY CORRESPONDENT
jammu, jul 24
Public Works Department (PWD) Division-1st Jammu J&K Govt constructed Rehabilitation complex at Vikram Chowk Jammu costing worth crores in the year 2001-2002 to rehabilitate shopkeepers whose shops merged in road widening at Bikram Chowk Jammu. Initially 12 shops measuring 12×20 ft were constructed on ground floor in 2001-2002 and then constructed 11 shops on first floor with proper provision of stairs in between shops 6 and 7 to reach first floor. It deserves mentioning here that the size if stairs was nearly 12×20 ft . Worthwhile to mention here that those who were running Khokhas (22 in number) also rehabilitated with half of shops . It is pertinent to mention here that the owners of existing shops whose shops merged in road widening in Vikram Chowk were asked to deposit Rs 1.15 lacs with Rs 28000 registration fee and further Rs 300 was fixed as monthly rent which shall be revisable @ 15% after a spell of every three years. Similarly in case of Khokha Wallas, they were asked to deposit Rs 4.80 lacs in total and initially 50% that is Rs 2.40 lacs with a condition that if the total amount is not paid within fifteen days , they can’t have possession of half of their shops and further Rs 500 was fixed as monthly rent which shall be revisable @ 15% after a spell of every three years. Reliable sources and some insiders in PWD department wishing anonymity have disclosed that since the allotment of shops in the year May 10, 2003 monthly rent has not been revised causing loss to PWD exchequer. In case of Khokha Wallas, remaining Rs 2.40 lacs which in grand total becomes Rs 528000 is still pending to be deposited by them when there was condition that until they deposit total money that is Rs 4.80 lacs, they won’t be given possession of shops besides their rent since then hasn’t been revised also. Pertinent to mention here that an outstanding rent of Rs 71800 in case of Khokha Wallas is still pending for the year up to March 2023 and likewise rent of shopkeepers on ground floor is also pending in lacs. It is bizarre to note that portion of stairs measuring nearly 12×20 ft to reach first floor on ground floor has been occupied by one Sharda Devi wife of Raj Kumar without any allotment order where she is running RK Photostat shop measuring 8×20 ft with proper shutter narrowing size of stairs and generating worth lacs monthly because of prime location in heart of city at Vikram Chowk. In all this the bathroom facility which is only available on first floor has been closed on account of shop constructed on stairs as there is no provision of bathroom facility on ground floor.Now the question arises if PWD has not allotted stairs space to run Photostat shop to one Sharda Devi who has managed commercial electricity connection with whose permission Sharda Devi managed shop covering stairs area. It deserves mentioning here that this arrangement on shop is now worth 10 crores and the sources have disclosed that Sharda Devi has further sublet shop to another person charging nearly Rs 1 lac monthly as rent. In light of above a high level investigation is need of hour to fix responsibility as when an RTI was filed in this regard, PWD department Division-1st has replied that no allotment order has been issued in favour of Sharda Devi vide No.6852-56 dated 19-7-2023 more surprising is to know that if there is no allotment order, then how Sharda Devi managed electricity connection vide No.W0000056287 as commercial.
