‘No action as residents say gates installed long ago’

Ludhiana: It has been a year since notices were served on various residents’ welfare associations in zone C for furnishing the documents of permission from the civic body for installing gates. But to date, no action has been taken against any society. The officials of zone C have submitted in their reply that 27 notices were served, but no action has been taken so far, while other zones are yet to submit their replies.
Activist Rohit Sabharwal had sought information under the RTI Act about total notices served on residents’ welfare societies, action taken on the gates and areas where these were installed. The officials claimed that at least 27 notices were served in July last year, but no gate has been removed because these were more than 15-20 years old and no new gates were installed. Meanwhile, zone D officials have served notices on a few residents’ welfare associations against whom complaints were received that they do not keep the gates open for public.
Assistant town planner of zone C Satish Kumar said, “We did not take action because residents in these areas gave in writing that they do not have any objection to the gates as these were installed several years ago.”
Meanwhile, a senior officer said they have sought report from other zones too.
It was after a complaint was filed by the activist regarding illegal gates in residential areas that the civic officials had acted. Last year, the MC officials had admitted that only eight associations had permission for installing the gates. Subsequently, notices were served.
The MC general house had, in 2014, passed a resolution, allowing gates to be installed for security, but some conditions were imposed, including a permission from the authorities.
The association of that area is to ensure that gates will remain open from 5am to 11pm and when these will close, gatekeepers will open them in emergency situations. The house had approved the resolution while mentioning that the gates can be installed only at the outer roads and not in inner lanes. However, many areas have gates in the inner streets too.