Ambala MC conducts anti-encroachment drive
The Ambala Municipal Corporation conducted an anti-encroachment drive at the Ambala City wholesale clothes market near the city bus stand on Friday.
Following complaints at the District Public Relations and Grievance Redressal Committee meeting regarding encroachment by some shopkeepers on footpath by way of installing sheds and placing goods, notices were issued by the corporation to such shopkeepers. However, when the shopkeepers failed to remove encroachments, the corporation conducted the anti-encroachment drive.
Ambala City’s famous cloth market witnesses traffic jams throughout the day due to congested lanes and encroachments.
Meanwhile, a duty magistrate was appointed and police force was also deployed to maintain the law and order situation.
During the drive, some shopkeepers raised their objection and claimed that adequate time was not given to them by the corporation to removed their sheds. The shopkeepers were seen arguing with the officials and seeking more time to remove their structures. Following the protest, the corporation officials allowed the shopkeepers to remove their belongings and then removed encroachments.
A shopkeeper said, “To protect the goods from rain, sheds were installed and shopkeepers also met the corporation officials with the request for some permanent solution. Though the officials had assured that they will find some solution, four to five days ago a notice was issued and on Friday, the corporation officials reached with machines and police force to demolish the structures. While no action was taken against the wrongly parked vehicles and illegal carts in the market, the corporation is demolishing sheds installed to protect goods from rain.”
Meanwhile, Executive Engineer of Ambala Municipal Corporation LC Chauhan said that following the complaints regarding encroachments and installation of sheds without permission, the action had been taken. "Notices were issued and adequate time was given to shopkeepers to remove their articles, but after seeing no response, the drive was carried out. The shopkeepers have been told not to encroach public spaces or install any structure on footpaths, else action would be taken against them," he said.
