A meeting of the Punjab State Traders Commission was held yesterday at Punjab Bhawan, Chandigarh under the chairmanship of Punjab State Traders Commission Chairman and Finance Minister of Punjab, S. Harpal Singh Cheema.
The meeting was attended by Local Bodies Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains, Vice Chairman Anil Thakur, DGP (Law and Order) P.K. Sinha, Secretary Taxation Ajit Balaji Joshi, Secretary H.S. Brar, Secretary Sandeep Goyal and other senior officials.
During the meeting, Punjab State Traders Commission Member and Majha Zone In-charge, Shri Sheetal Juneja, raised several important issues concerning traders of Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts. He urged the government to resolve the issue of increased rent for around 1,200 to 1,400 shops, facilitate the mutation of shops in IDH Market, and provide due compensation to shopkeepers affected by the fire incident at Ram Bagh Market.
He also demanded an early resolution of the Fish Market dispute through dialogue with wholesale fish traders and sought the regularisation of nearly 800 hotels operating within the walled city area of Amritsar under a One-Time Settlement Scheme.
Shri Juneja further raised the issue of reducing External Development Fund (EDF) charges imposed on colonisers by PUDA, simplifying the process of issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to plot holders, and ensuring the safety and security of traders in the urban and rural areas of Amritsar as well as Tarn Taran to promote trade and business activities.
During the meeting, Finance Minister S. Harpal Singh Cheema held detailed discussions with the concerned officials on these matters and assured that necessary steps would be taken to address the genuine concerns and demands of the trading community.