Encroachers have free run on main market road in Sahnewal

Residents and commuters who take the single-market road of Sahnewal are up in arms against the municipal authorities as well as the police department whom they accuse of having done practically nothing till date to resolve the constant problem of encroachments in the town.

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It was on the 20th of this month that in the Municipal Council meeting, a strict legal warning was issued to the shopkeepers to retreat to their permissible limits. The rehriwals were asked to remove their rehris within three days failing which they would have to face the music. But even after eight days, the situation remains the same. The traders continue to run their shops disregarding the directive to retreat to their permissible limits while the rehriwalas show no fear of any authority whatsoever.

Encroachments in Sahnewal town are a perpetual headache for the commuters as well as residents of the town. The rehriwalas stacked on both sides of the only main market road, generally known as the Kohara road, give the town a horrific look. The encroachments have messed up the situation to the extent that people from nearby villages literally dread the idea of visiting the town any more. “You go to the town for 15 minutes but get stuck in the mess only to return but not before wasting an hour or so,” shared Surinder Sidhu, who has his shop in Sahnewal.

Harbans Singh Sains, a resident of the town, said, “The matter has been brought to the notice of the authorities and the police department several times. Temporary removal is done but no permanent solution has been found so far. The encroachers are let off with a warning which only signifies that they can return, of their own will, any time. These encroachers act in connivance with the traders and the Municipal Council and the way they react to the commuters and the shoppers is too much,” said the residents.

“No action has ever been taken against the rehriwalas. They are allowed to go scot-free and return in no time. Unless and until lawful action is initiated against them, the problem cannot be removed altogether,” he added.

ACP Traffic Gurpreet Singh, when contacted, said, “We know that the problem of encroachments is there. But the onus for taking substantial measures is on the Municipal Council. We shall provide security as and when required by the Council.”

Executive Officer of the Municipal Council of Sahnewal, Vikram Kumar, initially failed to respond to repeated phone calls. He, however, attended to the call only to inform that he was with the doctor and shall revert afterwards, which was not done till the filling of the report.