Commercial complexes threat to security,says Army; Patiala civic body ‘indifferent’

The Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Department of Local Government of Punjab,too,had barred construction of commercial complexes on the stretch. Sources told The Indian Express that the Army station headquarters in Patiala had shot off a letter to the district administration highlighting the threat to national security following the declaration of the entire lane as commercial. The letter further stated that the municipal corporation,however,never raised any objections.

“Commercial establishments on this road would pose physical threat to the defence establishments. The Patiala MC should withdraw the resolution through which it had declared the road commercial,” reads the letter.

In October 2008,the Department of Local Government,Punjab,wrote to the municipal commissioner,“The government has decided to approve the resolution passed by Patiala MC regarding declaring the road leading from YPS Chowk towards Thikriwala Chowk as commercial. But this decision will not extend any benefits to buildings,which are subject matter of litigation in the HC.”

The Patiala Municipal Corporation (PMC) authorities have done nothing to ensure the compliance of the directions issued by HC. Citing specific cases,resident of New Lal Bagh advocate Ashok Mathur said commercial establishments have come up in the area,notwithstanding the fact that these buildings are subject matter of litigation. The areas residents allege that documents submitted by PMC in writing to the HC stated that construction raised by a marble shop has been demolished and they will not allow any illegal structure to come up on that property. “Construction is in full swing yet again,” residents said.

Notably,the role of the PMC authorities could judged from the fact that for the last four years a demolition order was passed by the HC and yet Patiala MC could not demolish that illegal multi-storeyed structure in New Lal Bagh area. Documents procured under RTI by Prem Kumar Rattan,an area resident,from MC mentioned that on June 17,2006,the then MC Commissioner had issued orders to demolish the illegal structure owned by Varinder Kaur Ghuman and Surinder Singh Ghuman. “Civic authorities had requested Patiala DC and SSP to provide them a Duty Magistrate and police force respectively for undertaking demolition but they did not get the same,” the documents said.

Municipal Commissioner Manjit Singh Narang said the matter is pending in the High Court,therefore,no action was taken. “However,we have not given any nod to a commercial establishment and if anything is illegal,strict action will be taken,” he added.