Improvement Trust seeks to halt construction of multiplex in Ranjit Avenue

Chairman of the Amritsar Improvement Trust Karamjit Singh Rintu has initiated strict action against the construction of a multiplex coming up on 3.73 acres of land in Ranjit Avenue. Despite a letter issued on March 24 instructing the builders to stop work, and several on-site warnings from Trust officials, the construction has continued in open violation of rules and regulations.

Now, under Chairman Rintu’s directive, the AIT has written to the Deputy Commissioner and the Commissioner of Police, seeking their cooperation to stop the illegal construction. The letter has requested the DC to appoint a duty magistrate on May 4 and asked the CP to provide police force at the site so that the activity can be brought to a halt.

The multiplex is being built as part of a 97-acre scheme in Ranjit Avenue, but reportedly no NOC has been obtained from the AIT, nor has any building plan been approved. It is worth mentioning here that some local activists have raised serious concerns over the security getting compromised by the multiplex, pointing out that the site is just 120 meters away from an Air Force establishment and only 50 meters away from an Army area. The construction is taking place without any required clearance from defence authorities, which is mandatory due to the height of the building. The activists questioned as to who should be held responsible in case of any mishap, and why construction was allowed on a land where no building should be permitted at all. How could PUDA officials auction the land for such a purpose, and how was the construction being allowed, they asked.

Letters of complaint have been sent to the Defence Ministry, Chief Minister, AIT Chairman, Police Commissioner, Local Bodies Department and the PUDA Chairman.

Two months back, after a complaint reached the Army, the Police Commissioner was requested to take action. In response, the ADCP North issued a letter summoning AIT officials for clarification, but the matter was later dropped without any concrete action. The Trust had earlier sent three official letters asking for the construction to be stopped, but officials failed to enforce their own orders.