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Sukhmeet Bhasin
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, February 12
Finance Minister Manpreet Badal’s wife Veenu Badal today asked shopkeepers to remain positive as things don’t change in a fortnight, but assured that whatever they had been promised would be delivered in coming days.
She was listening to their grievances at Dhobi Bazaar in the city.
She claimed they were at work all day in the city. Shopkeepers raised issues regarding encroachment on the pavements outside their shops, parking woes and properties having no record in the Revenue Department in old city areas with Veenu Badal.
Shopkeepers alleged that when they ask the MCB to act against the encroachers in the market, some Congress MLA’s PA intervenes.
They said due to encroachments on pavements, they were facing problems as customers don’t enter their shops.
Veenu Badal claimed that she would surely look into the matter and within a week’s time, the problem would be addressed.
Shopkeepers also raised the issue of parking in the market. Reacting on which, Veenu Badal said if a multi-storey parking comes up on the Mall Road, the issue would be addressed.
She claimed that they would make a plan on improving things in the market.
Shopkeepers also raised the issue pertaining to having costly properties in the old city, but there is no record in the Revenue Department regarding that.
They claimed that earlier, they were given receipt by the MCB, but since the property tax has started, they don’t have any record and there is a danger that anyone can pay property tax for that property.
Veenu Badal said the issue involves technicality and she would not comment on it now, but she would surely take up the matter with Manpreet Badal.
She said she had noted all points raised by the shopkeepers and in the coming days, she would surely meet them again for making the plan for the beautification of the market and other issues.
Congress leader Arun Wadhawan, Dhobi Bazaar traders’ association leader Gursharan Singh Shunty and others were present in the meeting.
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