On Tuesday morning, the administration team reached the spot with a heavy police force in Chandigarh’s village Maloya and bulldozed 25 shops built illegally. During the action, disappointment was clearly visible on the faces of the local shopkeepers.
These shopkeepers, who have been doing business for many years, say that now it will be difficult for them to survive. During the action, Tehsildar Punyadeep Sharma, Police Station Incharge Inspector Jasbir Singh of Maloya police station and other administrative officers were present on the spot. Before the action, the electricity of the entire Maloya village was cut off so that there is no protest or ruckus.
Karn, a shopkeeper present on the spot, told emotionally that when he came to Maloya, his children were small. He opened a small meat shop here and with the help of that he was managing the family expenses, rent and children’s education expenses. Now after the shop was demolished, his livelihood is in danger.
Notice was received earlier
It was told by the administration that the shopkeepers had been given notices many times before. Recently, a notice was issued again and the last date of June 3 was given to remove their shops on their own. But no shopkeeper removed his shops by the stipulated time.
In such a situation, on Tuesday morning, the administration team arrived with JCB and started the process of demolishing the shops. During the action, the shopkeepers hurriedly took out the goods from the shop.
Accused the administration of discrimination
After the action, a lot of resentment was seen among the shopkeepers. They said that why is illegal construction seen only in Maloya? There are illegal encroachments in other parts of the city as well, in many places people have built permanent buildings by putting lintels on the roofs, but no action is taken against them. The shopkeepers accused the administration of discrimination and demanded that action should be taken equally.
