Market association may move court against MC

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 17

Members of the Feroze Gandhi Market Association have warned the civic body authorities that they will move the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The association alleged that the MC is going to hold the auction of parking sites without marking the tow-away zones, fire lanes, construction of hydrants and marking of parking lots to avoid jam packing of vehicles. They alleged that the civic body allegedly failed to put the grills around booths to stop illegal parking of vehicles for sale at the market.

“Without ensuring these required arrangements, the irresponsible Ludhiana MC is in tearing hurry to go ahead with the auction of parking lots. Now, we have sent a legal notice to the Chief Minister, principal secretary of the Local Bodies and the MC Mayor. As the civic body failed to implement basic firefighting measures on the ground despite our repeated request, we are being forced to move the Punjab and Haryana High Court”, said Col Harjap Singh (retd), chairman of the association.

“Ludhiana MC officials are hand in glove with contractors as the civic body is in tearing hurry to hand over the management of five parking lots to a contractor without implementing any of basic firefighting measures; coupled with above. It also very odd that in 2007-2008, it gave a contract for around Rs 80 lakh and now also considering keeping reserve price of around Rs 80 lakh only ,especially when it has doubled the parking rates to Rs 10 and Rs 20 for two-wheelers and four-wheelers, respectively,” he said.

The association chairman also accused the civic body for sparing the contractors who failed to ensure implementation of the conditions at Bhadaur House and multi-level parking lots.