Allotment of cracker stalls: With burnt fingers,govt opts for draw of lots

The refundable security fee for each stall at the Dana Mandi site is Rs 10,000,while for other sites it is Rs 5,000.

DC Vikas Garg said the fee would be in the form of a demand draft in favour of the district magistrate Ludhiana and the applications be be submitted at the Suvidha Centre.

“After receiving the application forms,the allotment will be done through a draw of lots,” said the DC.

Till the last year,the DC used to allot the stalls on his discretion and those who were not allotted would cry foul. Last year,the issue sparked off a controversy after Deputy Speaker Satpal Gosain had levelled corruption charges against the then DC,Sumer Singh Gurjar,for which an inquiry was conducted and the DC was transferred later.

Subsequently,Divisional Commissioner JS Bir had decided to conduct a draw of lots to allot the stalls. Garg said,”The allottee will have to pay Rs 45,00 per stall to the sales tax department,after which a temporary license will be issued.” The shopkeepers will have to make all fire-fighting arrangements,he added.