Nawanshahr, November 7 (Gurbakhsh Singh Mehe):- Illegal encroachments have emerged as a major obstacle to development in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district, affecting everything from streets and neighbourhoods to major roads. These encroachments have become deeply entrenched, like cancerous growths on the body of development. Government property is often treated as unclaimed and occupied illegally. The responsibility does not lie solely with those who carry out these encroachments; employees and officials who deliberately turn a blind eye are also accountable. Public parks, playgrounds, panchayat lands and properties belonging to municipal councils are being encroached upon by influential people. There are even reports of illegal occupation under the pretext of religious places. The mining mafia also adopts a new form of encroachment by securing a smaller area through auction but carrying out mining over a larger area.
In several markets of Nawanshahr city, shopkeepers have placed their goods outside their shops, extending onto the roads. Shop signboards have also become a feature of the roads. Illegal encroachments by shopkeepers and the construction of long raised platforms in front of shops in the urban area have kept traffic problems persistent, while the Nawanshahr Municipal Council has maintained silence on removing these encroachments. It is worth mentioning that the Municipal Council occasionally, and the district administration a long time ago, carried out token drives to remove illegal encroachments. However, before the trolley and tractor used to collect the goods have even moved through the market, shopkeepers put their goods back outside their shops.
Goods displayed outside shops along Chandigarh Road, Banga Road, Rahon Road, Railway Road and Garhshankar Road, which are the main roads of Nawanshahr, frequently obstruct the enforcement of traffic rules. Moreover, owners of some well-known sweet shops allow long queues of vehicles to line up outside their establishments, seemingly conveying that the space belongs to them and no one can question it.
Apart from this, shopkeepers have constructed long raised platforms outside their shops on Kothi Road, Geeta Bhawan Road and in Suniyara Bazaar. During the rainy season, blocked drains cause water to flow like a canal through the roads of these markets, making it extremely difficult for pedestrians to pass. The Nawanshahr Municipal Council and district administration appear to be paying little attention to these problems. The issue had also become serious because the post of Municipal Council President had remained vacant for a long time. However, despite the position now being occupied, no firm decision is being taken. Vehicles parked in front of shops belonging to some prominent shopkeepers also disrupt traffic regulations, but the attention of the traffic police does not seem to turn towards them.
When an attempt was made to seek the response of ADC Avneet Kaur over the phone regarding these issues, she did not answer the call.
