Amarinder, Preneet seek rehabilitation of Patiala town traders

Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Union Minister Preneet Kaur today asked the state government to ensure rehabilitation of all the traders affected by the High Court's order directing that commercial establishments be removed from the residential areas in the city.
Condemning the proposed move of the Patiala Municipal Corporation to evict those doing commercial activity from the residential areas without making any alternate arrangements for them, Amarinder said, while he and his party respected the verdict of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, it was the duty of the government to ensure that the affected people were not devoid of their livelihood.

Both the leaders alleged that the state government had failed to protect the interest of thousands of family members of over 600 shopkeepers, whose shops are likely to be shifted out of city by the Corporation.
"We will oppose tooth and nail any move that may be initiated by the Municipal Corporation, Patiala, to shut commercial shops operating in the residential areas of the town unless and until proper rehabilitation measure are put in place for those likely to be affected", said local MP Preneet Kaur in a release.
Amarinder pointed out, during his regime, the local Kabari Market was shifted out of the town and all shop keepers were given sites on the outskirts of Patiala at a concessional rate of Rs 1,400 per yard only.

A similar dispensation is required in this case also, he observed, while adding, it is the duty of the government to ensure that people are not denied their livelihood.