Community centre sealing a ‘farce’

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, May 23

Action of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust of sealing two community centres in Block C and H/I at Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar has come to a naught as both community centres have their one or the other entry open. Furniture and other articles are freely being removed from the community centre in Block H/I while a caretaker and his family continue to live in community centre in C Block despite the fact that both buildings were duly sealed by a team of LIT officials on March 7.

Although the LIT officials claim that a criminal complaint had been lodged with the police for trespass and breaking open the sealed gates of both community centres, the residents of the colony allege that neither the police had taken any action nor did the LIT officials go for any follow-up action after the process of sealing which smacked of connivance and soft corner towards managements of the community centres, who are known to be politically connected.

The community centres were sealed by the LIT officials after much dithering even after their appeals to the state government (Additional Chief Secretary, Local Government, Punjab) against cancellation of allotment were dismissed in October last year. The managements of both community centres had not only defaulted on payment towards the cost of land but were also charged with violation of the building norms, illegal change of land use and other irregularities.

Several residents of the colony had recently met the LIT Administrator to apprise him of the fact that entry gates at the back or side of the buildings were open and these provided free access to trespassers (read functionaries of managements) who were removing furniture, fixtures, air-conditioners and other articles from the ‘sealed’ buildings. “Not only this, a caretaker and his family members continue to live inside the community centre in C Block where one gate had been opened from the side of the building,” the residents said.

The LIT officials admitted to incidents of trespass and some persons residing in the community centre in C Block. An official of the engineering branch of LIT said a dispensary was being run on the premises of the community centre in C Block and keeping the public interest in view, only that particular portion was permitted to be used for the dispensary. 

“But if the entry gate of the dispensary is being misused to gain access to the building, necessary action will be taken to stop illegal entry and evict unlawful occupants. We are taking up the matter with the police and in the meanwhile, an official letter has been sent to Punjab State Power Corporation Limited to disconnect  supply to both buildings,” the official added.