MC to crack down on ‘closed’ security gates in colonies

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, February 12

Taking cognisance of widespread complaints that gates installed on public streets in most residential colonies for security purpose remain closed during daytime contrary to the standing orders issued by the then Mayor in 2011, the Municipal Corporation has decided to take necessary steps to ensure compliance of the orders in letter and in spirit. A process has been set in motion to first propagate the MC orders in this regard and thereafter take action against offenders.

Orders given by the Municipal Commissioner (on February 11, 2019) on a note put up by the building branch in this regard say that directions issued by the then Mayor (vide his office letter no. 23 dated May 18, 2011) regarding keeping the gates installed at all public streets be kept open from 5 am to 10 pm are not being scrupulously followed.

“As a result of closed security gates, residents of the localities concerned are denied access to public streets causing inconvenience to most residents of the colonies as well as visitors. Moreover, causing obstruction on a public street is also a violation of the provisions made under the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act which needs to be checked effectively,” says the note.

Accordingly, the Municipal Commissioner has issued directions that the standing orders of the Mayor in this regard be widely circulated in print and electronic media as well as through the public address system in all localities where such gates have been installed. The residents of colonies where gates have been installed, or the resident welfare societies concerned, be directed to make sure that the gates are kept open from 5 am to 10 pm and during the night a security person be deployed if the gates are to be locked.

Action by the MC comes in response to a complaint lodged by Rohit Sabharwal, president of Council of RTI Activists, on February 5 to the Municipal Commissioner with copies to the Principal Secretary, Local Government, Punjab and Director of Local Bodies, Punjab.

Sabharwal had brought to the notice of the MC that in most cases where security gates were installed in the colonies within the city limits, the orders regarding keeping the gates open from 5 am to 10 pm and deployment of security guard at night when the gates were locked, were not being followed.

“In many cases, some of such gates remained locked all through the day with no security guard in sight which is a violation of the right of the people of free access to public streets,” the complainant had said.