High drama forces civic body on to the backfoot

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 15

Again owing to law and order problem, the Municipal Corporation had to defer its move of sealing the illegal hotels, guest houses and inns located in the vicinity of the Golden Temple today.

Besides, a letter issued on behalf of the Local Bodies’ director too stalled the MC’s proposed action plan.

This letter, dated for today, addressed to MC Commissioner categorically stating that the proposal to regularise 125 hotels, guest houses and inns on ‘as is where basis’, which was already passed in the state is cabinet meeting held on November 26. Upon this, the Local Bodies ministry was in the process of framing a policy shortly. This letter was issued after getting approval of the Local Bodies minister.

As many as 125 units were under the radar of the MC. The action was planned to seal as many as 15 hotels, including SGPC-run Guru Gobind Singh Niwas and dismantle the objectionable construction of 104 hotels, guest houses and other inns.

Nonetheless, high drama prevailed today at around 11 am when the whole battery of MC’s administrative machinery accompanied by around 500 police personnel, including 100 women polic officials under the supervision of DCP Bikram Singh Bhatti, three ACPs, Municipal Town Planning Department’s MTP, five ATPs, 10 inspectors were there at the site near Jallianwala Bagh to conduct the proposed action. Besides this, bulldozers, ditch machines, water cannons, fire brigade and two medical teams were pressed into service.

On the other hand, hundreds of affected hospitality units with their families sat on dharna near Jallianwala Bagh against MC’s sealing drive.

Ironically, the leaders from ruling SAD-BJP alliance too showed solidarity with them and raised voice against the drive. BJP-SAD leaders including BJP’s national secretary Tarun Chugh, district unit president Naresh Sharma, SAD’s district unit president Upkar Singh Sandhu, area councillor JS Dhot with scores of their supporters sat on dharna.

Tarun Chugh said the MC authorities under the garb of High Court directions, have been misguiding the hoteliers. Concluding the scene, the two duty magistrates—JP Salwan and Parveen Chhibbar—pronounced the verdict that the drives need to be postponed.

Salwan said this move was taken keeping in view the law and order situation which could get disturb due to ‘intense’ opposition. “The situation got tense amidst such a large opposition from hoteliers. We had to postpone the drive,” he said.

MC Commissioner Pardeep Sabharwal said they had to step back for the time being as the Duty Magistrates observed that it would be a threat to peace. “The move has been postponed but we will again conduct it anytime,” he said.

It was not for the first time that the MC has to take a U-turn. Earlier, on August 20 and October 7, identical were the circumstances and consequently the outcome too was the same.

A local resident, Sarbjit Singh Verka, had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition in 2010 challenging the functioning of illegal hotels around the Golden Temple after which a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed by the High Court to scrutinise the matter and take appropriate action.

The next date of hearing in the case has been scheduled for December 19.