PANCHKULA: Despite the Haryana Assembly speaker and DC holding 10 meetings to discuss removal of encroachments from market areas and government lands this year, the situation in Panchkula remains the same.
In his fresh meeting with officials of HUDA, MC, police, public works department and district planning officer on Tuesday, DC Mahavir Kaushik had asked for a daily report of the anti-encroachment drive. He also called for a special anti-encroachment drive in sectors 7, 9, 11 and 20, the market areas of which are worst affected.
The DC warned that the police post in-charge and junior engineer (JE) of the area concerned would be responsible for encroachments if they were found in their respective areas again after removal. He directed ACP Surinder Singh to impound modified vehicles selling junk food, called "truck foods" in market areas, which were encroaching upon government land.
Meanwhile, resident welfare associations alleged that senior officials were also holding meetings but not doing anything on the ground. Ramkesh Bhatia, a resident of Sector 7, said, "I have been living here in Sector 7 for the last 15 years but encroachments by fast food sellers in the market remain."
Welfare association members also complained of foul smell emanating from dumped food and plates. A few residents said that they were bothered about people stopping their vehicles in front of the food carts and eating inside the car. President, Citizen Welfare Association S K Nayar, said "Administration must remove encroachments and police officials must put sign boards of no parking on roads in busy markets and take strict action against such people."
