Ludhiana: The festival season has kicked off, but the civic body has decided not to issue permission for stalls outside shops as it will add to traffic woes, besides the Covid-19 norms prohibit large gatherings.
The officials claimed that the traffic police and the municipal corporation were also running an anti-encroachment drive and allowing stalls would ruin all the efforts. Last year too, the civic body had not allowed stalls due to traffic congestion.
Sources said, “The step has been taken to curb corruption by tehbazaari officials, who take money from shopkeepers for permissions. From these permissions, the civic body used to generate Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh during the festival season. The MC authorities say they cannot let residents suffer for money.”
Recently, the cops had started serving notices on shopkeepers for removing illegal stalls from outside the shops. On Tuesday, illegal vends outside shops in Jawahar Nagar Camp were removed. The officials said coronavirus cases have come down and if there was congestion and large gatherings, the situation would deteriorate again.
While refuting the corruption allegations, tehbazaari wing superintendent Abdul Sattar said, “We will not give permission for setting up of stalls as it will add to congestion. And if a fire incident happens, it will become difficult for the fire brigade to pass through rush.”
Mayor Balkar Sandhu said, “Permission will not be given this time.”