Ludhiana, September 20 The tehbazari wing cracked its whip against the temporary encroachments in Zone A today. The stocks, rehri, ferries were removed from various areas, including the Clock Tower Road, opposite Bank of India, Field Ganj, Shahour Road, Baba Than Singh Chowk and Subhani Building among other areas. The stocks, including eatables, accessories, tea-stalls, were lifted by the team and encroachments were removed under the supervision of Superintendent Rajiv Saggar. As soon as the encroachers saw the team of tehbazari moving towards them, they started removing stocks on their own. The stocks/ rehris were lifted in the MC vehicle. Ironically, many of these temporary encroachments come back either the same day or the next day and the removal exercise continues. One of the staff of tehbazari wing said it was a big-mafia, who takes money from vendors. “The MC would gain financially if the entire money (collection) goes into the kitty of the civic body, but there is no rule to regularise these temporary encroachments. Secondly, the encroachments are back because the MC has got poor infrastructure to lift the stocks. With just one vehicle, how can one expect to bring fruitful results?” he asked. Monitoring panel holds meeting A meeting of the Encroachment Monitoring Committee was held under the supervision of Additional Commissioner Satwant Singh, where issues regarding over 30 encroachments (temporary and permanent) were raised. Those who attended the meeting were RTI activist Rohit Sabharwal, Pran Bhatia, Darshan Arora, Col Jagdish Brar and Baljit Singh. Meanwhile, the issue regarding encroachment by keeping barricades and putting pots outside Pavilion Mall was also raised and it was brought to the notice of MC authorities that it was against the directions of the High Court. As per law, Rs 10,000 a week should have been imposed as penalty against the mall. Satwant Singh asked the department concerned to start issuing challan to the Mall so that the penalty amount could be collected. — TNS

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