Residents oppose move to revive fish market near factory area

Tribune News Service

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Patiala, September 4

Almost a month after the district authorities removed the fish market from near the factory area following a number of complaints by residents, who had been alleging nuisance due to the sale of fish here, the residents today again held a dharna led by Area Municipal Councillor Harpreet Kaur and her husband Sukhwinder Pal Minta, former Municipal Councillor.

The residents were opposing any move by local politicians to bring the fish market back at the same place.

On July 29, the administration took action against shopkeepers at the fish market. It was followed by a protest by the shopkeepers, who raised anti-establishment slogans. They alleged that they had been doing business here for the past several years and now action against them would put them out of business and affect the livelihood of a large number of families.

Area Municipal Councillor Harpreet Kaur and her husband Sukhwinder Pal Minta, former Municipal Councillor, had taken up the matter with Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal during his Sangat Darshan programme. The Deputy Chief Minister had even asked the Patiala MC to initiate appropriate action in this regard.

Meanwhile in the past fortnight, some local politicians had tried to back the shopkeepers who had lost work due to the action by administration. “We are not against any shopkeeper, but the fish market violates the rules and is a nuisance for local residents,” said Minta, who led the agitation, here today.