BHOPAL: Former MLA Surendranath Singh and his supporters created ruckus at headquarters of Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), on Tuesday morning after they failed to meet the municipal commissioner.
Singh and his aides barged into the chamber of commissioner demanding rehabilitation of shopkeepers shifted from Jawahar Chowk, for the ABD area project of Bhopal smart city. However, commissioner’s absence at the office left the former BJP legislator and his supporters frowning. Even other municipal officials did not entertain them. Nearly 250 shopkeepers have been displaced or are in the process of being shifted from the area. Most of the displaced shopkeepers are not happy with their relocation as they are unable to carry on their business at their new place. The process of shifting the traders is on and this has led to resentment among them.
The displeased shopkeepers accompanied by BJP workers and ex-MLA reached the civic body headquarters seeking solution to their issues.
Singh, later talking to the media said, that shopkeepers shifted from the area are left to suffer as around 100 of them are yet to receive agreement papers of their new location. Besides, most of the traders allotted new shops are not happy as they are incurring heavy losses and it would take years for them to establish at a new place, added the former legislator.
The administration needs to hear the pleas of shopkeepers else they will take up the issue at higher levels and also take the fight to the streets, he added.
