Encroachments, safety lapses galore in Panchkula markets

Growing public concern over rampant encroachments, rising unauthorised activities and deteriorating civic discipline at city markets has led several Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and trader bodies to raise their voice in unison, demanding urgent administrative action.

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Members of the Panchkula Vyapar Mandal met Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Shrishti Gupta to express alarm over the growing presence of beggars and unidentified individuals settling along footpaths and around market areas. Traders asserted that the encampments are not only obstructing business but also giving rise to public safety concerns, particularly for women, the elderly and children.

Responding to the complaints, the DCP ordered a verification drive to identify and trace individuals residing illegally near commercial zones. All police stations have been directed to engage Rider, ERV and PCR units to collect detailed data on the origin, duration of stay, and occupation of such individuals. Raids were also conducted in Indira Colony and Budhanpur to crack down on drug peddling, illegal gambling, and liquor dens, with assistance from dog squads and multiple police units.

“This initiative is a part of a broader urban safety plan,” Gupta said, emphasising that strict action against repeat offenders is essential to restoring order and instilling a sense of security in public spaces.

However, public grievances extend far beyond unauthorised settlers. A detailed representation by several RWAs has condemned the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) and the Municipal Corporation for turning a blind eye to alleged illegal encroachments by shopkeepers themselves.

As per the city’s master plan, HSVP-developed markets were intended to provide clean, safe walkways sheltered from extreme weather. Yet, today, the corridors are almost entirely blocked by goods displayed illegally in front of booths and shops.

The RWAs allege that in many sectors—including 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 15, and 20—even accessing the next shop often requires stepping back onto the main road due to obstructed footpaths.

“The shopkeepers have converted public walkways into private extensions of their businesses, displaying far more stock outside than inside their shops,” read the complaint. Authorities, they claim, have consistently failed to enforce basic by-laws.

Adding to the danger, the RWAs highlighted the alarming trend of sweet shops, fruit vendors and eateries cooking and operating electrical appliances in open spaces. Such setups violate both the Indian Electricity Act, creating a hazardous environment that could lead to accidents. These violations, the RWAs argue, hardly illicit any administrative action.

Congestion, poor

hygiene the new norm

Meanwhile, in Sector 20 Market, yet another dimension of the problem has come to light. Members of the local market association have formally complained about unauthorised vendors setting up carts and stalls indiscriminately. The vendors, they argue, not only avoid taxes and overhead costs—thus undercutting legitimate businesses—but also obstruct parking and pedestrian movement, leading to traffic chaos and a significant drop in footfall during peak hours.

Hygiene is another casualty. Most street vendors reportedly do not carry bins or maintain cleanliness, leaving behind mounds of garbage, especially around parking lots.

In their joint appeal, RWAs and market associations sought decisive action from both HSVP and the Municipal Corporation. They have called for strict enforcement of existing byelaws, removal of unauthorised vendors, clearance of encroachments, and prosecution of safety violations to restore Panchkula’s markets to safe, accessible and regulated spaces.