Encroachments dot grain market

Our Correspondent

Jagraon, August 10

The old grain market of the town has become a synonym of encroachments a large number which have mushroomed during the past few years. Most shopkeepers and traders in the market have illegally occupied land in front of their shops. There are only a few shopkeepers in the grain market, who have not encroached upon the Municipal Council (MC) land.

The state of affairs is such that extended corridors of many shops occupy space of more than 10 metres. Moreover, in absence of any strict action by the local MC authorities many shopkeepers have even erected concrete structures in front of their shops.

These encroachments have further contracted the already congested space of the old grain market due to which visitors have to face a lot of inconvenience. The movement of vehicles has also been hampered because of illegal structures.

Though the issue of encroachments in the old grain market has been raised time and again by some municipal councillors during general house meetings of the MC, yet nothing has been done in this connection.

The main reason behind growing of such illegal structures in the market is the lackadaisical attitude of the MC authorities. So far, MC officials have failed to act strictly against erring shopkeepers and traders. The authorities have turned a blind eye towards the problem as shopkeepers, who have encroached on the civic body land, enjoy support of some local politicians.

According to sources, civic body officials are under a lot of political pressure from leaders of various political parties, who coerce them to not to act against such shopkeepers. Whenever the MC authorities initiate any drive to remove illegal structures, some municipal councillors or local politicians come to the rescue of shopkeepers and the authorities are forced to abandon their drive midway.

The Jagraon Municipal Council president, Satish Kumar Pappu, said he was aware of encroachments in the old grain market. He assured that no one would be allowed to encroach in the city. “Encroachments will not be tolerated at any cost. The Municipal Council will soon initiate a drive to remove illegal structures from the old grain market”, added Pappu.