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The proposal of imposing a fine of Rs 10,000 on the shopkeepers who encroach upon the veranda in front of their shops is a workable solution. Mostly shopkeepers encroach upon a major part of the market corridors, hampering the movement of visitors. If implemented, the plan may show very good results. This proposal should not be rolled back rather the amount of fine should be doubled for repeating the offence.
Balbir Singh Batra, Mohali
Impose huge fine
Huge fine should be imposed on those who encroach upon market corridors and parking spaces as they won’t mend their ways after paying small fines. Harsher methods are needed to rein in such offenders. Everybody wants to earn more with less investment.
IPS Anand, Gurugram
Too harsh a penalty
In utter disregard to the rules, shopkeepers encroach upon market corridors. This action not only causes inconvenience to the general public but also paints a poor picture of city markets. To curb this menace, the UT Administration is planning to increase the penalty on the violators. Undoubtedly, some strict action is required to deter shopkeepers from encroaching upon market corridors but imposing a penalty of Rs 10,000 on them for it is too harsh. The proposal needs to be reviewed.
SS Arora, Mohali
Change in mindset required
There is hardly a person who has not encroached upon the government land, be it the residents or traders. When encroachments are removed by the authorities, in no time the encroachers make a come back. Traders continue to keep their goods in market corridors. They are the law unto themselves. Strict action is needed against them. Enhancing fine may act as a deterrence for some time. The real change can come only when there is a change in their attitude. Happy are those who are contented.
Dr Gurdev Singh, Mohali
Welcome step
Challaning shopkeepers for encroachment is a welcome step. However, imposing a fine of Rs 10,000 will lead to the inspector raj and chances of corruption cannot be ruled out. On the other hand, there are no checks on subletting of shops and space to vendors in the markets. The MC should identify the vending zones and allot space to vendors.
Col Balbir Singh Mathauda (retd), Chandigarh
Round-the-clock vigil need of the hour
Despite repeated action by the authorities concerned, encroachments can be seen in almost every market in the tricity. Congested corridors in city markets prevent the emergency exit of visitors during a fire incident or stampede. The problem gets worse during the festival season as almost all shopkeepers encroach upon market corridors to display their items. The authorities have failed to put a check on them. Every time an encroachment is removed, it raises an ugly head. Encroachments and parking pangs are interlinked. To deal with the parking woes, encroachments have to be removed. A conscious effort on the part of the Administration is required if they really want to do away with this menace. Officials should be deployed throughout the day so that shopkeepers do not encroach upon the corridors, roads and other places. Increasing fine may act as a deterrent.
Dr Shruti K Chawla, Chandigarh
Make officials accountable
Enhancing fine will not serve any purpose. The MC should issue a warning with the seizure of goods, along with the imposition of fine. Shop should be sealed for repeating the offence. MC officials should be allotted areas for the enforcement of the rules and their accountability be fixed. Shopkeepers should also change their mindset and refrain from indulging in the practice. The MC should interact with shopkeepers to make them understand the necessity of a free passage for the visitors.
Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Chandigarh
Sincere implementation of rules matters
Enhancing the fine is a good step. The sole objective of the latest proposal seems to be freeing the public land from encroachments. The success of the plan depends on the sincere implementation of the rules by the Chandigarh Administration. Otherwise, it will lead to corruption. Everybody knows there is an unholy nexus between MC officials and shopkeepers.
Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula
People should raise issue
We often observe at city markets the enforcement staff of the Municipal Corporation give ample time to shopkeepers to remove their goods from corridors temporarily. Even people do not pin point this. Same practice continues in residential areas. Unless the public is helpful and the enforcement staff are told to work honestly, nothing substantial will come out.
MPS Chadha, Mohali
Shift vendors from city markets
Increasing the fine from Rs 500 to Rs 10,000 may act as a deterrent. The Municipal Corporation should enforce the rules stringently for better results. Had there been regular visits of the MC staff to the city markets, encroachers would not have dared to muster the courage to encroach upon market corridors. Encroachers have themselved carved their vending zones with the connivance of MC offficials. They should be shifted elsewhere to earn their livelihood. The Municipal Corporation should charge fee in return from them.
Bhupinder S Sealopal, Mohali
Look for other options too
I am of the view that simply enhancing the fine will not help. Some stringent actions need to be taken to check the encroachment upon the public land. In the initial stage, the water and electricity supply should be discontinued.
Tarlok Singh MHC, Mani Majra
Confiscate goods of encroachers
Encroachments are of two types- temporary and permanent. Imposition of heavy fine will remove encroachments to some extent. Apart from this, goods being sold by encroachers should be confiscated. The shopkeepers do not have any right to use the public land for their own selfish motives. Encroachments by them pose a serious threat to commuters. It hampers the hassle-free movement of the public. In case of permanent encroachments, the Permanent Premises Act (PPA) should be implemented strictly. The MC should not even hesitate to initiate legal proceedings against the encroachers. Strict action can only relieve Chandigarh from the problem of encroachment.
Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Chandigarh
Charge fee during festival season
It is mainly around Christmas, New Year and other festivals that the public land is used to display goods. To curb this practice, the MC should charge licence fee to raise its revenue. If the encroachments persist for the whole year, heavy fine will surely act as a deterrent.
Harish Kapur, Chandigarh
Depute MC staff in city markets
The land that actually belongs to the public should be freed from encroaches with iron fist. Imposing hefty fines will serve little purpose. The MC staff should be deputed at markets permanently with the instructions to remove belongings of encroachers immediately. People in actual face a lot of inconvenience due to encroachments in city markets.
Gurjinder Singh Thuha, Rajpura
Officials should serve public, not politicians
Most encroachments on the government land take place because of the understanding between politicians and the authorities concerned. The problem starts on a small scale but soon grows into a major worry. Politicians, too, turn a blind eye to it as they do not want to annoy their voters. The authorities, too, toe the line of their masters. The answer lies in being tough with encroachers. Officials should work honestly. They should work for people, not politicians. People living in slum areas should be rehabilitated. Fine must be imposed on the culprits. Delay in action helps encroachers consolidate their position. Bring in seriousness and the problem will be solved.
Col RD Singh (retd), Ambala Cantt
Poor governance to blame
The MC just wants to fill its coffers. While the MC should be held responsible for encroachment on the public land, it gave legal sanction to the practice. This is nothing but poor governance by the civic body. The burden of enhanced fee would fall on customers as they would have to pay more for merchandise while the practice continues with impunity.
SC Luthra, Chandigarh
Enforce building bylaws
It is not only the public, officials and politicians,too, have encroached upon the public land. Any effort by the MC to remove these is thwarted by the use of money and power. Enhancing fine may prevent encroachments to some extent. It is a short-term measure. Strict implementation of the building bylaws is need of the hour.
Kiran Dhairya Kumar Patpatia, Ambala
No space for walkers
To make the city smart and liveable, encroachment on the public land should be prevented. Unfortunately, the space for walkers have squeezed in the city, especially city markets. Nobody is caring for the general public. In my view, heavy fine must be recovered from the persons encroaching upon the public land.
Ashok Kumar Goel, Panchkula
Weed out corruption from Municipal Corporation
There’s no use of increasing fine till corruption is removed from the Municipal Corporation. At the time of drives against encroachers, corrupt officials inform the culprits beforehand as they take money from them to carry out the illegal activity.
Daljit Singh Kohli, Chandigarh
Don’t return seized goods to traders
Yes, imposing heavy fine is a good step. The Municipal Corporation should not release the goods recovered from encroachers during a drive against them. Instead, the seized goods must be distributed among the needy.
Sanjiv Sharma, Chandigarh
Lead disciplined life
There is no doubt that Chandigarh is passing through its worst phase as far as encroachments on the public land are concerned. Imposing heavy fine for it will not help in getting rid of encroachments completely. The ultimate solution lies in self-discipline. We all should help the authorities concerned. Corridors in city markets should not be used by vendors or used for the parking of vehicles. The public space should not be misused, be it cycle tracks, parkings or corridors in city markets. To achieve the desired result, participation of the public is highly important. We, as true citizens, should follow the rules, leading a disciplined life.
Sanjay Chopra, Mohali
Laud civic body plan
The proposal of heavy fine should be welcomed as encroachers have encroached upon the land in front of shops and booths in the city. This will also help in the beautification of the city. I appreciate the proposal of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.
RK Pattra, Chandigarh
QUESTION
The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has decided to remove greenery in front of houses in the city, terming it encroachment on public land. Do you support the decision or should residents be allowed to use the area for greenery? Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com
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