Muhammad Mukaram
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 11: They say marriages are made in heaven and celebrated on earth. In Kashmir's summer capital, Srinagar, a close-knit neighborhood in Habba Kadal is all set to see at least 20 marriages this May, but there is no space to celebrate and to cook mouthwatering dishes for the guests, leaves families in trouble.
Once a strong hold of Kashmiri Pandits, is now facing acute shortage of open spaces and marriage halls to perform marriage ceremonies. The lack of development in the area has raised serious concerns and question mark on the rulers.
The local welfare committee says, more than 20 marriages are scheduled from the month of May. A member of the Gadood Bagh Mohalla Behbood Committee, Ghulam Mohammad, says there is no space available currently where these marriages can take place.
Meanwhile, MLA Habba Kadal, Shameema Firdous blames Director Handicrafts, Gazanfar Ali, who she says "is a liar." "I called him many times but he never takes my calls seriously. If he will give order of approval for construction of marriage hall, which is state land under Handicrafts Department, I will start work tomorrow. I have already sanctioned amount from CDF for the marriage hall," Shamima firdous, MLA Habba Kadal told Early Times.
"Yes, there is a genuine problem in the area and people are facing lot of problems in the congested area like Habba Kadal," Firdous added.
"As the marriage dates approach, the locals are becoming more worried and we appeal the authorities to consider the demand as soon as possible so that we can prepare for marriages functions," the Mohalla Behbood Committee members say.
However, Director Handicrafts Gazanfar Ali says the department doesn't have any problem to allow the locals use the handicraft centre. "I have visited the place and I found there is genuine problem. I have asked the concerned officials to let the locals renovate the community centre," Ali added.
The Director however added he cannot transfer the ownership of the property to locals as it belongs to state government. "Let government decide and in the meantime people can use this hall for any function," he says.
The locals of the congested neighborhood say they performed nearly two dozen marriages in a local government building, currently under the Handicrafts department, last year. However, this year the department, according to locals, is not ready to allow them to use it for marriage ceremonies or holding up even condolence ceremonies.
"Nearly 21 families approached us so far this year for the space but we were not able to provide them any space," a member of MBC says.
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