Anti-encroachment drive falls flat

LUDHIANA: Once again the anti-encroachment drive by the municipal corporation (MC) proved a damp squib as following a protest by the market association the tehbazaari and building branch staff of the civic body failed to kick off the drive at the Feroze Gandhi market on Wednesday.
A team of the building branch and the tehbazaari branch led by executive engineer (XEN) HS Salaria had gone to the site in Feroze Gandhi market to block a road that had been allegedly built by traders of the car market by ignoring the site plan of the busiest market.The MC had claimed that no road existed at that place and the shopkeepers were using the place illegally. But as soon as the MC team, accompanied by a heavy contingent of police force, reached the spot, shopkeepers from the area ganged up against them and nearly forced them to leave.
Shopkeepers claimed that the MC drive was illogical as there were several things in the market not according to any master plan but the authorities hardly ever bother to take action.
"We have been using the way from last many years, so it would be not be justifiable for the MC to close it now after two decades," claimed Suresh Kumat, a shopkeeper. They also alleged that the MC was acting tough against them on the directions of a particular officer.
Meanwhile, officials including DSP Amandeep Kaur had heated arguments with the shopkeepers but they failed to clear the site due to stiff opposition.
MC assistant commissioner PS Ghuman also reached the spot to resolve the matter but observing the stiff stand taken by the shopkeepers he asked them to talk to the commissioner, after which the MC staff returned bare-handed from the site, without carrying out the drive.