Panipat Municipal Corporation to start anti-encroachment drive from today

The Panipat Municipal Corporation (MC) will launch a special anti-encroachment drive across city markets starting tomorrow, with the aim of making Panipat an encroachment-free city.

The MC had announced the drive a week ago through public announcements (munadi), and the proposal received unanimous support in a recent General House meeting, where all councillors backed the initiative.

Following the announcement, many shopkeepers began voluntarily removing unauthorised structures outside their premises. The MC teams also visited markets to hold awareness meetings, urging shopkeepers to clear encroachments on their own.

Recently, the MC cleared illegal constructions in Sukhdev Nagar market, including concrete slabs placed over stormwater drains along the Panipat–Sanoli–Haridwar highway.

Now, the focus has been shifted to congested city markets where many showroom owners have extended ramps and balconies (chhajjas) up to 4 to 8 feet onto public roads. These encroachments, officials said, are a major cause of market congestion.

After market representatives raised concerns, a consensus was reached: shopkeepers can extend their ramps and balconies only up to 2.5 feet from the shutter. Any structure beyond that limit will be removed.

“The MC has decided to make the city encroachment-free. With the festival season approaching, people face a lot of inconvenience due to narrow passages,” said Mayor Komal Saini.

“I appeal to all shopkeepers to support this drive — it will benefit both customers and traders,” she added.

Gaurav Leekha, president of Insaar Market, said the shopkeepers have already started cooperating.

“This is the first time traders themselves have begun removing encroachments before action,” he said.

Darshan Lal Wadhwa, president of the Samyukt Vyapar Mandal, also supported the move.

“Once the encroachments are cleared, the markets will not only look better but will also become more accessible for everyone,” he said.

Municipal Commissioner Dr Pankaj Yadav confirmed that the anti-encroachment campaign would start on Tuesday as planned.

“All preparations are complete. MC teams will take strict action against violators and penalties will be imposed,” he stated.