Traders’ demands mustn’t alter UT’s basic character: Bansal

Prior to Bansal coming for the Chandigarh Business Council meet,the traders addressing the gathering said that they would impress upon the Minister to give them some assurance that their demands including allowing internal changes,allowing coverage of open courtyards,etc would be met.

They also stated that with the elections for the Municipal Corporation scheduled for December,they would extend support if their demands were met.

However,as Bansal started addressing the gathering he said,“I will not talk give and take.” He added that he did not give or take ultimatums. He said that the periphery was witnessing haphazard growth. There were no facilities and the pressure is on Chandigarh. Planning needs to be done keeping the Tricity in view.

“There is a need for dynamic growth. But the fundamentals on which the city was set up need to be there. We cannot spoil the city. Something of the basic character of the city should be preserved for the coming generations,” he said.

As traders complained about the anti-trader attitude of the bureaucrats,Bansal said that some decisions should be left to the bureaucracy. He said that the needs of the traders should be well defined so that a discussion can be held on their feasibility.

On traders demanding that the use of basements should be allowed for commercial purposes for free,he said that he was not in favour of making it free. He said that allowing too many changes would put a burden on the infrastructure.

Making a reference to the booth allotment scam,he said that he had written one letter asking for considering the case of a roadside vendor who had come to him for considering to be given a booth and “see what happened”.

He asked the representatives of traders that a few of them could hold a meeting with him and then the issues could be discussed at length.

General Secretary CBC JPS Kalra said the traders will have to take to agitation as nothing else seems to be working.

“We have given enough memorandums. We have also contributed to the growth of the city. But the politicians simply offer us lollipops,” he said.