Ludhiana market association writes to Chief Minister

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 3

A day before the F&CC meeting, members of the Feroze Gandhi Market Association have written to the Chief Minister and the Local Bodies Minister against the Municipal Corporation (MC) for allegedly not ensuring demarcation of parking lots and marking of fire lanes at the Feroze Gandhi market.

Without taking any concrete steps on ground to save life and property of visitors and occupants of this market, the MC is rushing to auction parking lots in the area. — PS Gill, President, Feroze Gandhi Market Association

The F&CC is likely take decision on proposal to handover parking lots of Feroze Gandhi Market to the successful bidder at meeting on Thursday. But, market association members alleged that the MC had not demarcated parking lots or ensured marking of fire lanes. They alleged that no steps were taken to remove encroachments from the market.

Association president PS Gill said, “Without taking any concrete steps on ground to save life and property of visitors and occupants of this market the MC is rushing to auction parking lots in the area. The MC is not complying with the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court regarding Feroze Gandhi Market.”

Association chairman Col Harjap Singh (retd) said they met the MC authorities multiple times, but the civic body was still going to handover parking lots to a private contractor without implementing basic firefighting measures.

“No contractor, who is violating norms, has been blacklisted. It shows 100 per cent connivance of the MC and contractors,” he added.

“There is an immediate need for decongestion of the five parking lots at the market. Fire tenders and ambulance can’t enter parking lots as these remain jam packed,” he said.

“Earlier, many contractors used to charge illegal fee for parking vehicles on roads. They are supposed to charge parking fee at only designated sites. The civic body has always ignored violations of contractors,” said a trader.

It is learnt that a contractor has placed highest bid of Rs1.10 crore for parking lots at the Feroze Gandhi market.