Boycott city market encroachers: NGOs

Harshraj Singh
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, March 25

With the tehbazari wing of the MC turning a blind eye to encroachments raised by shopkeepers in front of their shops, the representatives of a few city-based NGOs have started a campaign on the social media to boycott such shopkeepers.

The NGOs have appealed to people to boycott encroachers and not to purchase items from their shops. These messages are being shared on WhatsApp and Facebook.

Many shopkeepers have encroached on footpaths and roads to display their items. Such encroachments at Ghumar Mandi, Rani Jhansi Road, Field Ganj, Model Town, Gill Road and many other areas exist under the MC’s nose.

The civic body conducted multiple anti-encroachment drives on Field Ganj but encroachments surfaced a few hours after action. The road leads to two major hospitals, including Lord Mahavira Civil Hospital, and ambulances got stuck in traffic jams on this stretch.

Rahul Verma of the Sambhav Foundation said: “I have just come across an idea of boycotting the shopkeepers, who have encroached on footpaths. We spread this message across our circles. Encroachments are major obstructions in a smooth flow of traffic in the city. We seek people to support this drive.”

Anoop Garg of the Transformation of City said: “We appealed to people to stop purchasing items from those shopkeepers who have encroached on footpaths or roads. Traffic snarls are a major problem on several city roads due to such encroachments. Around a year ago, the civic body had asserted that it would act against encroachments, but to no avail. It seems the municipal corporation is non-serious about the removal of encroachments made by shopkeepers.” 

“The civic body can get an FIR registered against erring shopkeepers. Besides, the MC should issue challans on a daily basis,” said an RTI activist.