Thursday, March 09, 2017

After 4 years, Ludhiana Improvement Trust seals 2 disputed community centres.

Hindustan Times: Ludhiana: Thursday, March 9, 2017.
Despite political interference and a long wait, Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) finally sealed two community centres of Blocks C and H-I of Bhai Randhir Singh (BRS) Nagar. The allotment of these community centres was already cancelled by the Local Bodies Department after finding various violations.
Some members of the welfare societies of Blocks C and H-I disrupted the sealing procedure of community centre’s but the officials of LIT completed their job with the help of police force.
In the presence of police force from Sarabha Nagar police station, the LIT team led by Executive Officer HS Chahil and Superintending Engineer Rakesh Garg started the sealing process.
The work which took LIT, last four years was completed in less than five minutes as, the officials sealed the front gates of community centre of H-I blocks.
When they reached to seal the backside gate of community centre, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader cum member of community centre Harpreet Singh Bedi, Advocate Bhupinder Singh along with other members tried to stop the LIT officials. The officials were also pushed and manhandled by some persons who were opposing LIT action.
Bedi was demanding some time to vacate the community centre while advocate Bhupinder Singh claimed that LIT’s action is illegal as, he claimed the matter is sub-judice in Punjab & Haryana High Court. The LIT team returned without sealing backside gate of Block H-I community centre.
The LIT team then went to seal the community centre of Block C where they faced protest by the members including Advocate Bhupinder Singh who again tried to stop the officials from sealing. When welfare society members and LIT officials were exchanging heated arguments, two LIT officials managed to seal the front gate of the community centre of Block C.
EO, HS Chahil had to request the cops to take the advocate aside when he allegedly stopped the officials from clicking photograph of the sealed gate.
The cops then called Station House Officer of Sarabha Nagar Mohan Lal. Meanwhile, LIT officials also sealed the backside gates of Block C community centre.
Following a complaint by residents Baljeet Singh and Col JS Brar, the Local Bodies Department had cancelled the allotment of both community centers in November 2014. These community centers were constructed without getting approval from LIT.
Baljeet Singh had obtained information under the RTI Act that the Welfare Society H-I had been allotted a land measuring 2,000 square yards at `51 per square yard in 1985 but the Welfare Society had failed to pay the pending amount for allotment of the community centres. Besides, the Welfare Society of C block of Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar has also failed to pay pending amount against the allotment of land.
In January, 2015 the LIT had served notices to welfare societies to vacate the land while the welfare societies then filed appeal against eviction orders. In October 2016, additional chief secretary of the local bodies department dismissed the appeal. The welfare societies then filed review petition which was cancelled on March 1.
Gatecrashers: Sealed gate of H-I block community centre dismantled, LIT to file police complaint 
When the LIT officials went back after sealing the front gates of Community Center of H-I blocks, one of the sealed gates has been dismantled, informed Sub-divsional officer Jagdev Singh. Meanwhile backside gate, which was not sealed, of community centre of H-I Block was also dismantled to avoid further sealing, the sources said. The officials claimed they will lodge a police complaint against the accused for dismantling sealed gate.
Residents hail move
Col JS Brar said it is a welcome step by Ludhiana Improvement Trust to seal these community centres as, the residents have been suffering in the absence of parking arrangements, while loud music played during wedding events created nuisance. The residents expressed happiness after sealing of community centres.
Superintending Engineer, Rakesh Garg claimed they have successfully sealed the community centres. The senior officials claimed that if anyone tries to trespasses the sealed area they will lodge an FIR.