Indian Express 27.10.2010
‘MC requires dedicated force to help remove encroachments’
Express News Service Tags : Municipal Corporation, markets, chandigarh Posted: Wed Oct 27 2010, 03:26 hrs
Chandigarh: Markets ruled by encroachers and illegal vendors; enforcement wing staff often manhandled
The Municipal Corporation (MC) is contemplating the use of its own force for tackling encroachments. The need was felt as the enforcement wing of the civic body has been facing lot of resistance from encroachers.
There have even been instances where the enforcement staff have been manhandled by encroachers. The markets in the city are reeling under encroachment and illegal vendors are spread across all markets. The corridors in particular are choked, leaving little space for anyone to walk. While the problem is extremely acute in the markets of Sectors 22, 15 and 19, the other markets including the Sector 17 market too are not free of encroachers. The markets of the city are now bustling with activity due to the festive season.
With a huge rush of consumers, the chances of a mishap become higher. However, the Municipal Corporation has decided to go soft on encroachers for now.
While a number of encroachment drives have been held over the past week and a large number of challans issued, the civic body has decided to let the festive season pass before resuming the drive. One of the reasons being cited for this is the shortage of staff with the enforcement wing.
In fact, in Sector 22 some of them have started selling goods displayed in cars. Instead of displaying various items on the pavements, the vendors now display these in cars so that it is easier to pack up when officials from the enforcement wing appear.
With these cars parked haphazardly, the parking areas in the markets also tend to get choked. In fact, in case of a mishap, it would become difficult for any emergency services to reach the market. In case fire tenders need to be called in, they would find very little space to operate in.
Any effort to remove these encroachments leads to a lot of resistance among both vendors and shopkeepers. In Sector 22 there have been more than one instance in which the staff of the enforcement wing have been manhandled.
Joint Commissioner Lalit Siwach said that the enforcement wing is short of staff. “We would be moving a proposal to increase the strength of the staff. There should be special police force for the Municipal Corporation which would facilitate the enforcement drive. These proposals would be looked into.”
