Chandigarh MC elections: Raj Bala’s ward encroachers’ paradise

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 10

Councillor and former Mayor Raj Bala Malik’s ward number 2 has become a street vendors and encroachers’ paradise.

Other than having the largest registered vending site at Sector 15 in the city, a large number of unregistered vendors are also occupying different areas in local markets. Many shopkeepers have encroached upon verandahs or footpaths.

This troubles local residents as well as visitors to the market. People hardly find space to move around. In the evening, the situation goes from bad to worse when a large number of vendors swarm Patel Market and booth markets.

People do not find space to park their vehicles. In the event of a fire or other exigency, the situation can go out of control. During the five-year term of the local councillor, the situation has been deteriorating. “The MC first allocated sites to vendors near a residential area creating a nuisance here. The open area was earlier for parking purposes, but now people park vehicles on roads. Other than this, a large number of vendors also sit in the market area. There is huge encroachment, which causes inconvenience to residents. Besides, roads are not in a good condition and sanitation is also an issue,” lamented HS Jagdev, joint secretary, Residents Welfare Society, Sector 15.

Echoing similar views, VK Jain, former secretary, Residents Welfare Association, said, “Waste collection is a big problem. After vehicles were introduced for collecting waste, the charges have doubled from Rs100 to Rs200. There is no development in the ward. Vendors are a big issue here. At the Sector 15 allocated site, the vendors leave their goods at night. Even in the market area wherever you go, you find a rehri or vendors sitting on pathways, footpaths, verandahs outside shops or parking lots. Nothing has been done in this regard.”

Raj Bala’s ward comprises Sector 12, 14, 15 and Khuda Lahora Colony.

Sector 12 and 14 house the PGI, the PU and PEC, which have their internal arrangements, while Khuda Lahora Colony is a big residential area, but for five years, no work regarding sewer and storm water has been started here.

This is despite the fact that Khuda Lahora Colony is always in the news during the rainy season as water enters houses.

However, at the fag end of councillor’s tenure, the work on both issues has started.

Rajendra Singh, a local resident, who has been raising this issue, told Chandigarh Tribune, “The sewer and storm water pipeline-laying work has started and residents are hoping for a big relief before the next monsoon arrives.”

Raj Bala Malik, councillor from ward number 2

Area: Sector 12, 14, 15 and Khuda Lahora Colony

Promises: Overall development of the ward

Result: Partly kept

Achievements claimed

• Long-pending issue of stagnant rainwater at Sector 15/11 underpass resolved
• Water pipeline laid in leftover area of “cheap houses”, Sector 15-D
• Four open-air gyms set up in the ward
• Sewer, stormwater pipeline work started at Khuda Lahora Colony
• Sector 15 community centre upgrade work
• Road recarpeting at Khuda Lahora Colony

Councillorspeak

I am not in favour of illegal vendors. The MC has been challaning violators. At Khuda Lahora Colony, the work started late as some arrangements had to be made before carrying out the main job of laying pipelines. — Raj Bala Malik

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