Encroachments removed from Shastri Market, 38 challaned

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 31

Following the Punjab and Haryana High Court order, joint teams of the Estate Office and the Municipal Corporation, along with the local police, removed encroachments in and around Shastri Market, Sector 22, today.

A total of 38 challans were issued to non-registered vendors and to those who were sitting in corridors. Their goods were also seized. The drive started around 12.30 pm and continued till 8 pm. The drive will continue tomorrow.

The drive was carried out under the supervision of SDM Nazuk Kumar, DSP (Central) Krishan Kumar and MC enforcement wing in-charge Sunil Dutt. About 100 cops were present in the market. A number of vendors were seen running away at the sight of the police and officials.

MC officials said they would penalise the offenders with Rs 2,000 for the challan following which their goods would be released. Yesterday, Deputy Commissioner Mandeep Singh Brar had held a meeting to work out a plan for the drive.

The court had ordered that encroachments on walkways, public paths, corridors and open spaces by vendors, hawkers and squatters should be removed within a week.

The court acted on a public interest litigation filed by owners of booths in the market, who complained that vendors encroached upon the passage in front of their booths, which adversely affected their business. The petitioners told the court that they had raised the issue before the UT Administration, but to no avail. The Bench observed that the Administration had not taken any effective steps to remove encroachments from public paths and passages and the complaints made by the petitioners had not been addressed.