Residents ask Local Bodies Minister to take action

With Amritsar Municipal Corporation failing to comply with the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to remove encroachments, the streets of the city are becoming narrower by the day.

The worst-hit areas include Railway Link Road, Landa Bazaar and the market opposite the railway station. Enraged, residents of the areas, especially hoteliers, have approached Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia for immediate action. They have also planned to move the High Court.

As encroachers have displayed their wares on Queens Road, Lawrence Road, GT Road, Putlighar, Hall Bazaar and parts of the walled city, roads are being used as parking lots.

NS Gabarhia, a resident of Landa Bazaar, says the MC has done nothing to remove illegal occupants despite the orders of the High Court.

"As per the approved plan of the corporation, the width of the Railway Link Road is 70 feet, but due to the encroachments, now it is no more than 7 feet," he says, adding that the hoteliers in the area are the worst sufferers as people don't visit their joints due to no place to park vehicles. He alleges the encroachers have political links.

Amarjit Singh, owner of Bharat Hotel and Restaurant, says, "We have sent so many representations to the municipal authorities as well as the Amritsar SSP, but things are as they were 20 years ago," he says. Amarjit has asked Kalia not to take taxes from hoteliers till the encroachments were removed.

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