Srinagar is facing a major problem of encroachment of public spaces with footpaths, parks, and playgrounds being encroached upon by individuals and businesses for various purposes, such as setting up shops, storing goods, and parking vehicles.
The encroachment of public spaces is a major nuisance to the public and is leading to a number of problems, such as traffic congestion.
The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) is responsible for addressing the problem of encroachment of public spaces; however, the SMC has been facing a number of challenges, including limited resources and inadequate manpower.
In recent years, the SMC has launched a number of drives to remove illegal encroachments from public spaces. However, these drives have often been met with resistance from encroachers. As a result, the problem of encroachment of public spaces remains a major challenge in Srinagar city.
“The SMC needs to be strengthened with more resources and manpower to effectively remove illegal encroachments. The government of Jammu and Kashmir needs to enact stricter laws to deter encroachment of public spaces,” locals said. “There needs to be greater awareness among the public about the importance of public spaces and the need to protect them,” they added.