Commercial activities in city residential areas on MC radar

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 5

The Municipal Commissioner has ordered a survey of commercial activities being carried out in the residential areas of the planning schemes and development schemes that fall under its jurisdiction. The Commissioner, Kanwalpreet Kaur Brar, has given instructions to the assistant town planners of all four zones to file the survey report within one month.

A large number of commercial activities are being carried out in residential areas. Assistant Town Planner (Headquarters) SS Bindra said they would get to know the actual number of violations in these schemes after the completion of the survey.

The areas, including Model Gram, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, Sarabha Nagar, Gurdev Nagar, Kitchlu Nagar and Udham Singh Nagar, have been carved out under various schemes.

Earlier, Rohit Sabharwal of Council of RTI Activists had filed a complaint to the Principal Secretary and the Director of Department of Local Government against commercial activities being carried out in residential schemes.

“The commercial activities are common in a majority of residential areas under these schemes. As per the law, commercial activities are not allowed in residential areas of the schemes. Many people are carrying out commercial activities on streets, colonies and on roads in residential areas by violating the law. Customers visiting these shops are forced to park their vehicles on the road,” he said.

Besides, residents of BRS Nagar had earlier demanded action to stop commercial activities in residential areas. A resident blamed that the traffic snarls were a routine on most roads in the residential areas of the city due to commercial activities and lack of parking space.

What residents say

Residents of BRS Nagar had earlier demanded action to stop commercial activities in residential areas. A resident blamed that the traffic snarls were a routine on most roads in the residential areas of the city due to commercial activities and lack of parking space.