6 yrs on, LIT plans to open sealed centre

Ludhiana: The Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) is now planning to reopen the community centre at Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, which was sealed by it about six years ago. The officials claimed they will soon start the renovation of the community centre and it will be opened in the next two months.
This community centre was allotted to an organisation in 1985 for operation and maintenance, but it reportedly failed to make timely payments to the LIT, so the authorities issued a notice in 2015, asking them to vacate the space. The matter had even reached the court, but to no avail.
Since 2016, when Dr Subhash Verma was the chairman of the LIT, the centre had been under their control and has since been locked, amidst strong resentment by the organisation members and residents.
Aam Aadmi Party MLA Gurpreet Gogi had recently requested the LIT authorities to bring this community centre to use so area residents could avail the facilities. The community centres usually charge less than private party halls for various functions. But owing its closure, area residents have long relied upon the private marriage bureaus and halls for their functions, which cost them a lot.
The residents had also approached Gogi in a public meeting with their request, who then informed them that his recommendation has been approved by the LIT officials and the centre will be opened within a few months. however unlike previous times, the centre would now be maintained by the LIT itself.
Confirming the development, LIT chairman Tarsem Bhinder said, “We have received request to start this community centre, but first I have asked the officials to check legal aspect if there is any matter pending in the court. If things are clear, then we can proceed.”
Meanwhile the MLA has even got boards installed outside the community centre saying it belonged to LIT and would be opened very soon. LIT has made such community centres across the city, many of which are in use while some are lying in a bad shape.