Penalise parking inside Mubark Mandi complex: J&K minister

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir government has directed removal of barbed wires from inside the Mubarak Mandi complex here.

J&K minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari also directed the officials that parking of vehicles should not be allowed inside the complex.

"The Minister for Public Works yesterday directed removal of barbed wire from Mubarak Mandi complex and asked law enforcement agencies to ensure that vehicles are not parked inside the complex," an official spokesperson said today.

Chairing a meeting here, Bukhari also instructed that fine should be imposed on those who violate the instruction and park their vehicles inside the complex.

He asked floriculture department officials to renovate the benches and repair non-functional fountains in Mubarak Mandi park on fast-track basis in consultation with the ASI and Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society, the spokesperson said.

The minister also instructed the officials to remove encroachments on the roadsides and drains in Jammu city as well as other districts and towns of Jammu division.

He asked the Vice Chairman of Jammu Development Authority and Commissioner Jammu Municipality remove encroachments over the Transport Nagar Narwal Nallah to prevent floods in adjacent areas, the spokesperson said.

In the next 15 days, up-gradation work of 1,000 km road would be taken up in Jammu division, the minister said.

Earlier in the day, Bukhari inspected Bagh-e-Bahu and other prominent parks here and asked to upgrade and maintain cleanliness in these parks.

He also directed the officials to upgrade the guest house at Bagh-e-Bahu besides giving facelift to the gate and undertake minor repairs of all the parks immediately.

While visiting parks in Gandhi Nagar area here, the Public Works Minister took notice of tents erected by police, security personnel there.

As per the Supreme Court guidelines, public parks are meant for public purposes only and the tents erected by police be removed immediately, he said.