MC razes encroachment, restores wall, finally

Charanjit Singh Teja
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, November 18

The Municipal Corporation (MC) demolished the shutters, which were installed after breaking the historic wall near Lahori Gate, on Sunday morning.

The officials and staff concerned, led by Executive Engineer Sandip Singh, reached the spot at around 11.30 am. A police team was also there to tackle any untoward incident.

Town Planning officials removed the shutters of the shops with a ditch machine. Besides, a wall was constructed. No resistance was reported from the property owner.

Sandip Singh, Executive Engineer, MC, said, “As per the directions of senior officials, we have demolished the shutters and constructed the wall. A few cops have been deployed for the security.”

The MC had built the wall on Saturday as well but it was demolished in the evening by shop owners. Meanwhile, Municipal Town Planning wing is also working to get an FIR registered against the owner.

The shops owner had installed the shutters toward the ring road by violating the building bylaws and then broke the historical wall a few days ago. Senior BJP leader and former Cabinet minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla had raised the issue and asked the MC officials to preserve the historic wall. The shops owners had reportedly tried to damage the bus shelter in front of the shops.