MC shuts eyes to violation by mall

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 24

A mall near Fountain Chowk here has put up planters, traffic cones and chains on a road portion, so that no visitor parks his vehicle there. But the Municipal Corporation seems not bothered about taking action or imposing a penalty on the mall owner.

The issue was raised by an RTI activist, Rohit Saharwal, during a recent meeting of the Encroachment Removal Committee held under the presidentship of Additional Commissioner Satwant Singh too.

Sabharwal said as per the High Court directions, no road portion can be covered like this. “If one does so, he should be challaned and penalised as well. The mall has covered a part of the road portion by keeping huge planters and traffic cones. The MC authorities should issue challan and impose a fine on the owner,” said Sabharwal.

Chetan, a student studying in Regional Centre (Law) here, said at times, the vehicles parked right in front of the college and within the white line are towed away by the traffic police. The mall authorities have conveniently put up planters and other things on the road portion. Neither the MC authorities nor the traffic police have noticed this violation, which is disgusting, he said.

Superintendent of Tehbazari Jasdev Singh Sekhon said there was some confusion over jurisdiction. If the road portion is under GLADA, then the authority should be taking action against the mall. “We have asked GLADA to provide us with its map, but they have given us no document so far. These are temporary encroachments and action can be taken only if it is clear that the road portion is under the jurisdiction of the MC,” he said.

Even if the property belongs to GLADA, the roads are taken care of by the MC. In that scenario, the MC can take action in this case.