The Times of India 10.03.2011
Civic body officials check AC market
LUDHIANA: After the Punjab and Haryana High Court directions, the municipal corporation commissioner, along with municipal town planner and fire brigade team, visited AC market in Bhadhaur house on Wednesday.
The inspection was conducted on the HC directions, as the authorities
had reportedly informed it that ”encroachments in the market have been
removed completely”.
A public interest litigation was filed in
the high court against the shifting of parking lot from basement to
terrace of the building. It was filed by Satish Kumar, a shopkeeper in
the market. He alleged that owner of market and president of Caliber
Plaza Shopkeepers’ Association Mann Singh was ”making commercial use of
parking lot”. He also alleged that construction of 625 shops was
allotted in the market, but there were 750 shops and 54 were constructed
in basement alone, which was not allowed.
On Wednesday, a team
of MC officials checked the market and fire-safety arrangements and
lifts there. Satish, a resident of Krishna Nagar near Ghumar Mandi, said
last hearing of the case was on February 22, when the commissioner had
informed the court that they had removed encroachments. But the HC had
directed him to visit market and present a report in court by March 28,
he added.
Another PIL was filed in the court by a shopkeeper,
Shamsher Singh Channi, when a portion of his shop was razed for
”violation of building by-laws”. Mann Singh, however, said the
allegations levelled by a few shopkeepers against him were ”baseless
and there was no violation in market”. He said the corporation
authorities have conducted checking and they were satisfied with
arrangements.
In the meanwhile, the commissioner was apprised
of the problems of shopkeepers in the market. He has directed the
officers to remove materials kept outside shops, so that passage was not
obstructed.
Meanwhile, MC commissioner AK Sinha said, ‘I have
carried out checking in the market and fire brigade officials have been
directed to examine fire safety arrangements. They will submit a report
after which I will take a decision.’
