Patiala MC to launch app for encroachment plaints

Ravneet Singh

Patiala, April 14

Failed to bring respite for residents from temporary and permanent encroachments on roads and footpaths that regularly lead to traffic jams, Patiala MC will launch a mobile application for residents to register encroachment-related complaints on it. Mayor Sanjeev Sharma Bittu has directed MC Commissioner Keshav Hingonia to create a mobile application for registering complaints.

The Municipal Corporation due to the alleged lackadaisical approach of its inspectors and political pressure has failed to bring a respite from the encroachments in the last four years. Both, encroachments in the form of illegal constructions and the proliferation of street vendors on roads and footpaths, have left city residents fatigued due to regular traffic jams.

While the MC has failed to initiate action, Mayor Sanjeev Sharma in a letter written to the Municipal Commissioner has demanded creating a mobile application for registering complaints against encroachers, followed by action.

Officials in the MC said the civic body has requisite staff and information to identify and initiate action against the violations. “The MC officials get little support from political bosses as inspectors are regularly pressurised by them not to act against their close associates”, an official pointed out.

“In the last over four years of the city’s governance, the MC has simply failed to implement its street vendor rehabilitation programme as they are a major reason behind traffic jams. Vendors from only a select road, adjacent to the Mayor’s residence at Ragho Majra, were cleared in February 2021. Since then, the MC has not even identified sites for rehabilitation of the vendors in a full year. The project is otherwise hanging fire for over four years”, an official requesting anonymity said.

Officials said there were numerous ways of filing complaints to the MC, including toll- free number for complaints, the MSewa application and public grievance portal of the state government.

The MC Commissioner said, “ He has not seen the letter, but it can prove instrumental in putting a check on the illegal activity.” He said launching a new application could also take time and expenditure. He said the MC would soon implement no-vending zones and develop vending sites simultaneously. “We have already acted against illegally-raised permanent structures in the city. The practice will continue”, he added.

The Mayor said, “The new initiative will be launched to fill all gaps that prevail in taking action against the violations. Previous efforts and initiatives have failed to yield results, therefore ,we want to launch our own application. It will help streamline the work of MC employees as well.”