Contractor faces flak for overcharging stall owners

Stall and rehri owners at the Shaheedi Jor Mela have alleged exorbitant charges by the contractor managing the temporary stalls, creating a stir among the vendors. The situation has further worsened as stalls set up on roads between Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib and Gurdwara Jyoti Saroop Sahib have caused inconvenience to devotees, despite Section 144 banning such encroachments for smooth movement of pilgrims.

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When contacted, the contractor defended his actions, stating, “I have taken the contract from SGPC for Rs 2.72 crore and has set up stalls on SGPC land, not PWD land. The district administration has no right to ban the setting up of stalls.”

He denied allegations of forced collections, claiming stall owners approached voluntarily.

Gurdeep Singh Kang, Manager of Gurudwara Fatehgarh Sahib, confirmed the contract was awarded for Rs 2.72 crore.

However, he expressed his concerns, saying, “It is the common sangat that has to bear the brunt of high prices, bringing bad name to the SGPC.”

Deputy Commissioner Dr. Sona Thind said, “I have deputed a team under the SDM Bassi Pathana to remove all the encroachments from the roadside.”

Religious and social organisations, along with the political leaders have criticised the SGPC for awarding a high-cost contract, urging them to regulate item prices and stall rents to prevent exploitation of devotees.