Government land not vending spot: Sector 22 group

CHANDIGARH: The Heritage Protection Group formed by the residents of Sector 22 submitted a representation to the UT adviser, MC commissioner and deputy commissioner, along with 130 pictures, in which vendors could be seen encroaching the front vacant parts of the government employees' houses located near Sector 22 market last year during the festive season. Most of the encroached houses have been lying vacant for some time now.
HPG chairman Gianender Singh Ahlawat said last year the group raised the issue with the concerned authorities stating that the vendors were misusing the government land to run their business during festival season. He said that in their representation they suggested that the MC and estate office should be directed not to allow any temporary vendors stalls during the festive months in the residential areas. The temporary vendors in the market area should be issued unique identity numbers, which would serve as their license to run during the festive season. The numbers should be displayed on the stalls such that the probability of collusion between enforcement wing and vendors can be done away with.

The group suggested that on Saturday or Sunday, the MC with the help of HPG members should make a video of the area encroached by the vendors to have a basic understanding of the ground reality. The process should be repeated on different occasions throughout the festive season to look into whether the encroachments increase or decrease with Diwali approaching .

Rajender Mohan Kashyap, member of RWA of Sector 22, said, "The recent action of the MC allowing temporary stalls in the name of festive seasons in the market area is turning out to be against the interest of the residents as these stalls have started encroaching the residential areas. The footpaths are meant for pedestrians just like the cycle-tracks are meant for cycles."

Ram Nihal Yadav, HPG member, said, "The HPG has been writing to MC time and again to stop the increasing number of encroachments in the residential area. Despite repeated reminders and requests, the MC has not taken any required action till date. This leads us to believe that MC is in collusion with the vendors and are working against the welfare of the residents of the city."

Ravi Kant, area councillor of the Chandigarh municipal corporation, said he will raise the matter with the authorities and ensure that strict actions are taken against the vendors who encroach on the government property which is not to be used according to the Vendor Policy Act.