The Times of India         10.03.2011

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.'