Finally, MC wakes up to illegal constructions

Charanjit Singh Teja
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, July 24

On the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, officials of the Municipal Town Planning wing of the Municipal Corporation initiated action against illegal structures around the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Wednesday.

A joint team of Municipal Corporation, Amritsar, and Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) disconnected water and power connections of illegal hotels around the Golden Temple.

However, they were ill-prepared as they did not have relevant documents. They visited 25 commercial establishments, including hotels, guest houses and shops around the shrine, but disconnected only nine water and 17 power connections.

Congress councillors Moti Bhatia, Ajit Singh Bhatia, BJP councillor Jarnail Singh Dhot and office-bearers of the hotel association opposed the move. A number of hotel owners staged a protest when the team moved towards a major hotel in the area after disconnecting water and power connection of a guest house.

Meanwhile, a hotel owner complained of some health issue and was rushed to a hospital. Heated arguments were witnessed between guest house owners and employees of the MC.

The team disconnected five power and two water connections of shops on the Galiara road. Agitated shopkeepers staged a protest and demanded documents that showed their shops were illegal. However, the MC staff failed to show any document. Shopkeepers raised slogans against them, who were later pacified by the police.

Police officials and members of the PSPCL also entered into an argument with the officials of the Municipal Town Planning wing as they were not carrying a copy of the court order and were even not clear which buildings were illegal.

Later, Nitish Singla, Joint Commissioner, MC, reached the spot and asked the officials to get a copy of the orders and provide list of illegal commercial establishments. The teams led by Singla disconnected connection at one guest house and a hotel near Kathian Wala Bazar. Meanwhile, hoteliers again assembled outside Mercury Inn Hotel and did not allow the MC team to disconnect the connections. After argument, MC officials and hoteliers held a meeting at a hotel after which the MC team started accepting documents from hoteliers. Several major hotels provided documents. Four hotels provided stay order by the HC, while others were exempted under pressure of demonstrators, supported by Congress, BJP and SAD leaders.

The officials disconnected water connections of some low budget guest houses to prepare the report of action. The staff of the PSPCL led by Executive Engineer Gurmukh Singh disconnected power connections of 17 commercial establishments, while the officials of the Municipal Town Planning Wing were “not keen to take action against commercial establishments, especially big hotels”. The MC ended the drive around 3 pm.

Singla said, “In compliance of the court orders we have disconnected 17 power and nine water connections of several commercial establishments. We will take the opinion of our law officer. Action will be taken against all the illegal buildings”.

Hoteliers oppose move

• A number of hotel owners staged a protest when the MC team moved towards a major hotel in the area after disconnecting water and power connection of a guest house. 
• Heated arguments were witnessed between guest house owners and employees of the MC. 

ill-prepared drive?

• Officials of the Municipal Town Planning wing of the Municipal Corporation did not have relevant documents. 
• They visited 25 commercial establishments, including hotels, guest houses and shops around the Golden Temple, but disconnected only nine water and 17 power connections.