Jaipur: Around 200 shopkeepers of Kalwar village in Jaipur district are staring at an uncertain future and finding it difficult to eke out a living after the administration and Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) have allegedly disconnected their market by blocking a nearly 200-year-old road passing through the Mahindra World City SEZ, Ajmer Road.
Shopkeepers alleged that their livelihood has been hit hard after the SEZ blocked the road connecting Kalwar and Jhain in 2017.
Sunil Kumar Jain, who runs a confectionery store, said, “The road connects approximately 10 villages with the market and before it was closed my income was approximately 50,000 per month. Now, it’s not even 10% and there is a struggle for survival.” As the village is disconnected, the business in the area has crippled and most of them are forced to shut down their shops.
Kailash Kumar Lakehra, another shopkeeper, said, “This was a bustling space and shoppers thronged the area to buy goods. Now, shop owners are finding it increasingly difficult to pay electricity bills and the situation is getting worse day by day.”
Recently, after the miffed villagers demolished the wall and cleared the blockade on July 2, 2022, the matter reached the district collector. To resolve the issue, the district collector had called the meeting of public representatives and stakeholders on July 10, 2022.
In the meeting, a decision was taken to close the road and provide an alternative way to the villagers as Mahindra SEZ is a notified entity and a road cannot pass through the zone. Also, there was a confusion among villagers as the road was earmarked in the Master Plan 2011- 2025. However, the JDA has leased the way to Mahindra SEZ. The minute of the meeting reads, the SEZ has rights on path as per the gazette notification issued by the Centre and JDA’s zonal plan 2017.
A senior JDA official said, “The matter has been amicably resolved in the district collector’s meeting. The stakeholders and villagers have reached an agreement. We have not received any complaint on the issue.”
Ramdayal Verma, sarpanch of the village, who was also present in the meeting, however, said, “The alternative way will not bring an end to woes of the villagers. Moreover, notification was issued, and a zonal plan was prepared without inviting objections and suggestions. The village is disconnected with three sides and roads should be provided to villagers.”
Villagers further claimed that people who earlier found work in surrounding villages, Bhamoria and Jhain, and in Jaipur city are now finding it difficult to commute because of the extra travel distance and the consequent expenses.
Rajeshwari Kumari, another villager said, “The SEZ representatives claim that the road is closed due to security reasons and to prevent duty evasion. The administration should rather beef up its security than to create hassles for local villagers.”
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