50 Jalandhar shopkeepers threaten dharna over waterlogging

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 7

More than 50 shopkeepers that run their business along Lamma Pind Chowk are up in arms against the Municipal Corporation over the alleged apathetic attitude of the authorities towards their demand for a concrete solution to waterlogging in the area.

Meeting with MC Commissioner today

Promises were made 10 days ago. We are now meeting the MC Commissioner on Monday. We will ask him what he has done in these 10 days to resolve the problem. — Rajwinder Raja, Councillor

“This is the time (in monsoon) when we suffer a lot because of water accumulation. There is no way a customer would turn up and buy clothes from my shop. We are feeling helpless,” said Surinder Kumar, a shopkeeper. His shop is near Lamma Pind Chowk and the issue of inundation of the area is troubling every other shopkeeper of the area.

The shopkeepers’ association along with area councillor Rajwinder Raja had met the MC Commissioner over the issue around 10 days ago, but to no avail. MC Commissioner Devinder Singh was apprised of the perennial problem of waterlogging in the area and the resulting financial losses to shopkeepers.

They had told the MC Commissioner that their work was getting affected whenever it rained as the water would enter their shops, preventing customers from visiting them. “The problem has been there for ages but officials continue to turn a blind eye to it. We have been visiting the officials concerned, but to no avail,” Surinder Kumar, president, shopkeepers’ association, had then said while talking to the media.

Councillor Rajwinder Raja said a sewerage project worth Rs 40-45 lakh was supposed to start here in the area, but it had not been launched yet. “Also, we have asked the contractor who was supposed to complete the work. He had told us that the MC had not given money to him which is why he is not doing the work,” the Councillor said.

Association members have now decided that if something doesn’t materialise on Monday, they will protest against the MC. “We have made our up minds in this regard,” a shopkeeper said.

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