‘For the betterment of the town, people must cooperate with the administration’: SHO Sopore
‘Restrictions on movement of horse driven carts in the town welcomed by all’
Suhail Khan
Sopore, Feb 12 : The Sopore administration Friday said that the restrictions on horse-driven carts (tongas) in north Kashmir’s Sopore shall be applicable to municipal limits only while as outside Municipal limits, tongas can ply as per the schedule.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Sopore (ADC) Sopore Parvez Sajad Ganai told Kashmir Despatch that the administration issued orders of restrictions on the movement of horse driven carts within the municipal limits of the town only.
“The Sopore town was witnessing massive traffic jams and congestion due to tongas and street vendors. Emergency services including ambulances were getting stuck in these jams creating massive problems to patients and locals, so there was a need to put some restrictions on movement of horse driven carts,” ADC Sopore said.
He said that any Tonga owner found not obeying the orders shall be dealt according to the law.
ADC Sopore said that keeping in view that people associated with this profession may not suffer, administration is planning to provide them special concessions.
“We are planning to make Tonga a joy ride. We will allow the Tonga owners to ply on specific routes of various villages, health resorts, view points of the area so that they can earn their livelihood,” ADC added.
While commenting on the issue, SHO Sopore Azim Iqbal said that after reviewing the situation of the town, this decision of restrictions on movement of tongas was taken.
“Sopore town was choked by Tonga wallas and vendors. Earlier the vendors were relocated and now the restrictions on movement of horse driven carts has been put in place. The tonga owners must co-operate with the administration for the betterment of the town,” SHO Sopore added.
Meanwhile several social groups have lauded the efforts of administration on putting restrictions on the movement of tongas in the town.
Anayuttullah Hajini who is handling Coordination Committee, Haji Mohammad Ashraf Ganai Chairman Economic Alliance, Ashiq Hussain Zaki General Secretary Civil Society, and other senior citizens including Showkat Ahmad Teli, Rayees Kaloo welcomed the decision taken by Sopore administration.
They said that people must wholeheartedly welcome such steps and help administration in it’s implementation.
“Any step taken by administration to help people, to streamline the traffic in the town must be taken in a good notion and welcomed wholeheartedly,” they said.
Meanwhile recently elected councilor Irfan Ali also welcomed the taken by administration.
“It was the need of hour in the town. Atleast people will get rid of everyday traffic mess. Schools will open, offices will open and Sopore needs to breath free. People should co-operate with the administration and welcome such people friendly decisions of administration. This is our town and we shall help each other to make it look better,” Irfan said.
The step of putting restrictions on the movement of tongas in the town has been appreciated by one and all in north Kashmir’s Sopore township.
Locals while hailing the steps taken by ADC Sopore and SHO Sopore said that putting restrictions on Tonga movement was need of the hour for the smooth movement of traffic.
“We are witnessing a change in Sopore and due credit goes to Sopore administration. But the Tonga wallas must be provided alternative routes from where they can earn their livelihood,” they said.
