A high-level delegation from the Aam Aadmi Party's intellectual wing, led by its state president Major R P S Malhotra (retd), met with Patiala Mayor Kundan Gogia on Friday. Their central demand was clear: formally declare as commercial those city areas which, despite being officially recorded as residential, have fully transformed into bustling commercial hubs.
The Core Issue: A Mismatch Between Record and Reality
The delegation submitted a detailed memorandum to the mayor outlining their concerns. Major Malhotra presented a stark picture of systemic failure within the municipal corporation (MC). He alleged that numerous areas across Patiala have turned commercial due to the connivance of MC employees.
According to Malhotra, a corrupt pattern has emerged. While building plans are officially approved for residential purposes, commercial constructions are later permitted on the ground following the exchange of bribes. This has created a widespread discrepancy where the city's official records do not reflect its actual land use.
Hira Bagh: A Prime Example of the Problem
Citing the case of Hira Bagh, Major Malhotra provided concrete evidence of the scale of this issue. He pointed out that more than 500 shops and commercial establishments operate in this area. Notably, within a radius of nearly 300 metres from Rajpura Road, there is virtually no residential construction left, painting a picture of a fully commercialized zone.
Malhotra emphasized that Hira Bagh is not an isolated case. Several other localities in Patiala present a similar completely commercial character on the ground, while remaining classified as residential on paper. This duality, he argued, fosters a harmful environment.
Consequences and the Proposed Solution
The AAP leader outlined the negative impacts of this dual system. He stated it promotes corruption, harasses honest landowners and traders, and results in substantial financial losses for the state exchequer. Commercial properties attract higher taxes and fees, revenue that the civic body is missing out on due to the incorrect classification.
The solution proposed by the delegation is straightforward. They have urged the mayor to bring a resolution in the MC's general house to officially declare such genuinely commercial areas as commercial zones. This move, they believe, will bring transparency, curb corruption at the grassroots level, and significantly increase legitimate revenue for the municipal corporation.
In response to the memorandum, Mayor Kundan Gogia provided assurances. He told the delegation that he would place the proposal before the next general house meeting for discussion. Gogia confirmed that a resolution to regularize these commercially active areas would be considered. When contacted later, the mayor reiterated that declaring these areas as commercial would financially benefit the corporation and indicated that a decision would be taken soon.
