Water, power supply to 20 illegal buildings snapped

Tribune News Service
Amritsar, August 20

Two days before hearing in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Amritsar Municipal Corporation (AMC) and Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) in a joint operation snapped the water and power connections to 20 unauthorised commercial establishments here on Monday.

The four-hour-long drive saw employees of the AMC and PSPCL, accompanied by police personnel, taking action against these establishments. They had to face the wrath of agitating hoteliers and other businessmen who were upset over the action.

Iqbal Preet Singh Randhawa, Municipal Town Planner, said, “Action was to be taken against 26 commercial establishments, which included showrooms, shops in addition to lodges and stay houses. However, since six of them had secured a stay, no action was taken against them.

He said as per the court order, the action was taken against only those establishments, which are situated in and around the Golden Temple corridor.

Meanwhile, owners of commercial outlets raised slogans against the MC and those officials who had allegedly taken kickbacks from them before constructing their lodges, hotels and stay houses.

They even tried to manhandle officials of the MTP. However, swift police intervention saved the situation.

Surinder Singh, president, Federation of Hotels and Guest Houses Association, said the Capt Amarinder Singh-led government should take a cue from the Delhi Government, which had authorised as many as 1,210 illegal hotels before the Commonwealth Games. Why is no such remedy introduced here?

He said the markets around the Golden Temple were established by Sikh master, Guru Ram Das, and later these were nurtured by the legendary Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Four teams each of MTP, AMC Operation and Maintainance Cell and the police were involved in the campaign. Each team was comprised of 20 members.

Its before action was initiated against 19 commercial buildings on July 24.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had stayed the operation of the Amritsar Walled City (Recognition of Usage) Act and directed the Amritsar Deputy Commissioner to snap water and electricity connections to unauthorised commercial establishments, including hotels, in and around the Golden Temple corridor on July 22.

Sarbajit Singh Verka, petitioner in the case, said: “We challenged the Walled City Act and the court stayed its operation. It is not only about Galiara but the entire Walled City area and buildings constructed after July 2012, when the HC banned the construction.”