‘Rules violated to allot Verka booths’

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 25

RTI activist and AAP leader Suresh Sharma on Saturday alleged that Verka milk booths were allotted by former Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) Chairman Dinesh Bassi in violation of rules. Suresh Sharma demanded to re-allot these booths to unemployed youth as per the list of unemployed persons in the Employment Office.

A number of booths were allocated to Bassi's near and dear ones. The establishment of kiosks in public parks was also illegal. The removal of Bassi has brought relief to needy persons, who were sidelined during allotment. — Suresh Sharma, RTI activist & AAP leader

Former district president of Aam Aadmi Party, Suresh Kumar Sharma said Dinesh Bassi, former chairman of the AIT, violated the rules while allotting the booths. “A number of booths were allocated to Bassi’s near and dear ones. The establishment of kiosks in public parks was also illegal. The removal of Bassi has brought relief to needy persons, who were sidelined during allotment,” said Sharma.

The booths were mostly set up illegally on sidewalks and parks in localities of the north constituency in the district. The booths were set up in Ranjit Avenue, Nehru Shopping Complex and New Amritsar.

Suresh said from the year 2019 till removal of Bassi, former chairman and general manager, Verka milk plant, had allotted the Verka milk booths by violating the government rules. The booths should be re-allotted to those persons who applied for employment in the District Employment Office. The AIT can help some physically challenged or elderly persons, who do not have other means of livelihood.

Suresh claimed that he would meet newly appointed AIT Chairman Damandeep Singh and ask him to re-allot the kiosks to the unemployed persons registered with the District Employment Office.