Dugri residents irked over food truck at parking lot

Kuldip Bhatia
Ludhiana, April 27

Encroachment on public places, roads and parks in the city has laid bare the apathy of the authorities towards the menace.

The problem has assumed such an alarming proportion that it is neither frowned upon nor the officials concerned care to take any action against offenders.

One such mobile eating joint has been operating at a parking area in the Dugri Urban Estate Phase I market, much to the inconvenience of residents. However, the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) has failed to pay heed to it.

In a complaint to the GLADA Estate Officer, residents maintained that a food truck, named ‘Road Runner’, has been put up in the parking area of the main market adjoining their houses. The eating joint has not only occupied public space but the area around was also being used for setting up a ‘tandoor’, food and billing counters.

“During late evening, there is a huge rush of customers at the eating joint and often, anti-social elements create nuisance for residents in the area. It is difficult for residents, especially women, to venture out of their houses,” said residents.

The complainants also pointed out that shopkeepers and owners of other commercial establishments in the market had purchased shops and SCOs at very high rates and due to the nuisance created by the truck, shopkeepers were suffering losses. “Earlier, the truck used to be parked for a few hours in the evening, but now it is permanently located at the site that is meant for the parking of vehicles by owners of shops and SCOs and their customers,” the residents added.

Citing a judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court (in COCP 1299 of 2009) with regards to encroachments on public places, residents have said officials of GLADA were duty-bound to remove all encroachments from public places/land and in case of failure in discharging their duties, they were liable to be hauled up for contempt of court and face disciplinary action, including suspension and imposition of penalty.

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