The Businessmen’s Association of Pauri has decided that the markets and commercial institutions will remain open on Thursday though the municipal board president Yashpal Benam and his associates have called for a protest bandh on that day in support of their demand for demolishing the colonial era Collectorate building to construct the new building and building of a park in the jail garden compound.
The officiating district magistrate has directed officials and police to ensure that protesters are not allowed to force traders to down shutters. Action will be taken against those who force members of the business fraternity to participate in the protest. In an emergency meeting held by the association and also attended by locals, it was agreed that the decision to construct the new Collectorate building on the jail garden compound was the right decision.
This decision of the district administration is in public interest but is being opposed by some persons. In the meeting the association condemned the statement of some people who had declared that the businessmen of Pauri will keep market closed on August 8 without taking the consent of the association which has decided to keep the market open on Thursday.
Members of the business fraternity and some politicians have also supported the decision to keep the market open and construct the new Collectorate building as decided by the district administration. It should be noted here that in November 2012 the District Magistrate had called a meeting seeking suggestion from the public representatives and citizens from different parts of the town in which majority of the gathering had suggested that new Collectorate building should be constructed in the jail garden in public interest.
Benam had then opposed this suggestion stating that the old Collectorate building should be demolished to make way for the new building. It is pertinent to mention that all employee associations, Congress party and other organisations have given full support to the construction of new building in jail garden compound.
Some days ago, the municipal board president had tried to stall construction work which had evoked strong opposition from locals.