Amritsar, July 17
Even though the Amritsar Municipal Corporation (AMC) talks high about removing illegal encroachments, but it seems that the officers do not have enough courage to translate their words into actions.
Due to inefficient working of the Estate Department of the AMC, the city is marred by encroachments that are causing inconvenience to the public.
The A and B Block markets of Ranjit Avenue, which were top markets of the city and were free from encroachments, are also marred with illegal encroachments as these markets were shifted from the purview of the Amritsar Improvement Trust to AMC.
Both these markets were good places to visit due to the ample space for parking and broad footpaths for smooth movement of the public. However, due to laxity of the AMC and a new caretaker of both these markets, the area has seen an increase in encroachments.
The classic example here is the Subash Juice Bar in the A Block market. Some newspapers last fortnight had published news highlighting the illegal encroachment of the entire foot path outside the restaurant. The restaurant owners have made a permanent structure here encroaching upon a stretch of nearly 15 feet.
However, the AMC officials, who then promised to take action against the violators, seem to be facilitating them. Instead of removing the encroachment, the shop owner has now put a permanent canopy of fiber sheets on the encroached area and placed juice machines there.
The structure is permanent and has been decorated with tiles. Even seating arrangements have been made in the area. A bamboo partition has also been put up behind this structure, thereby obstructing the footpath.
‘It seems that the AMC has not enough will power to take action as per law against the influential violators. Most of the time, the AMC people remove the encroachments of ‘rehriwalas’ or small shops, but here no one is taking action against such violation where they have permanently encroached upon the footpaths,” said Sanjiv Kumar.
When contacted, AMC Commissioner D.P.S. Kharbanda said that he had asked the concerned official to take action and if he failed the department would take suitable action against the official first and then against the violator.
