MC to issue demolition notices to illegal shops

LUDHIANA: The municipal corporation will issue demolition notices soon to illegal shops constructed on the road from ESI Hospital to Kochar Market Chowk, after receiving a complaint against the shops. Earlier, MC officials had conducted a survey in the area to find out about the violations done by shopkeepers, after a complaint was submitted to the department by RTI activist Rohit Sabbarwal.
It is pertinent to mention here that the complaint was against shops initially allotted to 1984 riot victims in 1987. At that time, there was an agreement that an area of 6*6 feet was being allotted to victims, against a rent of just Rs75 per month, with the condition that these shops should not be further given out on rent or sold. According to information, another point in the agreement was that the allottees were allowed to establish only temporary structures at the piece of land, not concrete buildings.
However, at present, double-storey buildings can be seen there. Also, the shopkeepers are defaulting when it comes to payment of rent to the MC. Municipal town planner Kamaljit Kaur said it was found that shopkeepers had done encroachments in the area, so she sent a file to the MC commissioner for taking a decision. Now, the commissioner has directed the department to issue demolition notices to violators, and soon the notices will be served.