22 yrs on, dhaba running from illegally occupied booths

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, January 19

In what could be termed as a classic case of misappropriation of prime commercial properties, the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) has closed its eyes to major default by a dhaba owner, who has occupied five booths in the Kitchlu Nagar Scheme (on main Hambran Road).

Out of these five booths, only 10 per cent earnest money was paid at the time of allotment way back in 1997, while two other adjoining booths had been occupied in an unlawful manner.

As per the records of LIT sales branch, booth No. 27 to 32 were sold through public auction in 1997 to different bidders for a price ranging between Rs6.75 lakh and Rs7.20 lakh. Against the sale of these booths, the buyer of booth No. 27, 30, 31 and 32 had deposited 10 per cent earnest money (Rs36,500 each), while the bidder for booth No. 28 deposited 25 per cent towards the bid amount.

One Anand Bahl, a successful bidder for booth No. 31 (price reserved at Rs7 lakh) later purchased booth No. 30 and 32. He opened an eatery (dhaba) in three booths, for which only Rs36,500 was paid for each outlet against the total sale price of around Rs21 lakh. Over the period, the dhaba owner also encroached upon two adjoining booths (No. 33 and 34).

More shocking is the fact that files pertaining to booth No. 33 and 34 – under unlawful occupation by the dhaba owner – have gone missing under mysterious circumstances for the last several years.

That certain officials and employees of the Trust were in full knowledge of the default by dhaba owner and responsible for causing huge financial loss to the LIT is evident from the fact that no recovery notice for the payment of default amount towards the cost of the three booths was issued after 2000 nor were any efforts made to trace the missing files of booth No. 33 and 34.

LIT executive officer Harpreet Singh Sandhu said a notice for the cancellation of the allotment of booths would be issued to defaulting owner as per the Trust record and the properties would be resumed after following the procedure as per rules.

“The sales branch has been directed to immediately trace the missing files and also prepare a list of other commercial/ residential properties whose allottees had defaulted in payment, so that action can be taken in all such cases,” he said.