Zirakpur
29 May 2022
DIVYA AZAD
Shopkeepers of Bansal Plaza located on VIP Road accused Zirakpur Municipal Corporation of committing excesses, saying that they are harassed by the corporation workers at the behest of Plaza owner Satish Bansal. The shopkeepers have lodged a police complaint against Bansal on charges of irregularities and conspiracy. In a press conference held today at Zirakpur Press Club, a shopkeeper alleged that last evening three unidentified persons stopped him on his way back home and threatened not to do anything against Bansal, else be ready for dire consequences. Ajay Lamba alleged that Bansal sent goons to attack him.
Shopkeepers including Meenakshi Lamba, Rajiv Chaudhary, Ajay Lamba, Sanjeev Bassi, Sakir Hussain, and Paras complained that the plaza owner was targeting a shopkeeper and is pressurizing with the connivance of the MC employees to sell his shops at a throwaway price. They said that 18% GST per shop was charged in cash and a receipt was not given despite repeated reminders. Bansal had sold the shops at higher rates saying that facilities like access to parking would be available, which did not happen. There is constant interference almost daily by the plaza owner and his wife, which upsets the shopkeepers. It was also alleged that in the name of cleaning overhead tanks without prior notice, the water supply was disrupted, forcing the shopkeepers to arrange water from outside. In the name of big plans to sell the plaza at a rate much higher than the current price, their time is wasted by the plaza owner in the name of meetings.
LThe media was told that due to the non-selling of most of the shops, the owner of Bansal Plaza had struck a deal with an unknown dealer on the condition that the entire complex would be vacated and given to him. Despite repeated reminders by the shop owners, the plaza owner Satish Bansal has not given the building completion certificate, threatening the safety of all the shop owners. Neither the copy of fire NOC was given. The sewerage and construction of the complex were of poor quality.
