Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 6

With the Assembly elections due next year, local politicians have started allotting “Verka” booths to its supporters on public land, especially in parks of the city. More than eight such booths have come up in various parks and markets in the last few weeks. Most of the booths have been allotted by the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) on its land.

While some politicians patronised their supporters to set up illegal kiosks on some prime locations, the estate wing of the Municipal Corporation made their attempts futile in the past.

According to information, a number of persons put a demand before local MLAs of the ruling parties to set up these booths. A large number of unemployed party activists have aspirations that senior leaders would allow them to set up a kiosk on any corner to solve the issue of unemployment.

The government or ruling party leaders do not have any job to provide to unemployed party activists, so it is the only solution to allot them a Verka booth or help to set illegal kiosks in any park.

However, the practice is not new as power was largely misused during the previous government regimes. A large number of Verka booths and illegal kiosks were installed on public land during the SAD-BJP regime. Close associates of a former Cabinet minister of the BJP got a Verka booth in Company Garden. Some other persons got Verka booths in Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Government Medical College and other prominent parks.

During the Congress rule, Verka booths were installed at parks in Ranjit Avenue and Amritsar Improvement Trust. One such booth has been installed at Nehru Shopping Complex, which is in violation of building bylaws too. The open space near stairs, which connects stairs with verandas, has been officially encroached to allot the booth. Dharminder Jeet Singh, Estate Officer, MC, said, “We did not allot any booth in our parks as public parks are not meant for shops. Some people had tried to encroach on footpaths and parks but we demolished as soon as the encroachment reports.” Dinesh Bassi, Chairman, AIT, said, “We have allotted seven booths, but got permission from the government for it. The government allows the setting up of Verka booths and there is no violation of rules.”