Kangan: The shopkeepers and tent owners from Central Kashmir Monday staged a massive protest against the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) alleging that they are not being allowed to erect kiosks and tents and shops.
The shopkeepers and tent owners who gathered outside the office of Sub Divisional Magistrate office Kangan said that they wanted to open temporary establishments during the upcoming Amarnath Yatra at the Holy Cave and different camping sites on Baltal route.
“It is an injustice with the local people; SASB is hampering our livelihood by not allowing us to erect tents as this is our only source of income,” said a protester.
SDM Kangan Peerzada Zahoor Ahmed said that the SASB has since last two years restricted the number of tent owners and shopkeepers desirous of establishing at Baltal and holy cave.
“We had received a huge number of applications for the same and following which draw of lots was held and only those selected were permitted to establish tents and shops,” he said.
Ahmed said that it was impossible to accommodate and allow all the shopkeepers and tent owners due to space limitations. (CNS)
