The Municipal Corporation has decided to send its suggestions to the Town Planning Wing, where it has been decided that whether the town planning schemes are residential or industrial on paper, if the nature of the area has changed over the time, the area would remain as it is.

The MC officials have pointed that any industry that is highly polluting be moved out of residential colonies.

Furthermore, the authorities are surveying a few selected areas where there has been a thick industrial growth despite it being residential in nature. Sources revealed that the authorities have surveyed areas like Janta Nagar, New Janta Nagar, Shimlapuri, Guru Nanak Colony among others, which have been declared residential in the Master Plan but have more than 6,000 units operating within.

The survey suggests that more than 70 per cent of these areas have seen rapid industrial growth and hence be declared as fit for mixed land use. The industrial associations of these areas met various representatives including politicians seeking redressal.

Gurwant Singh, general secretary of Small Scale Industries Association said, “We have sent our objections to the Town Planning Department. Politicians including Hira Singh Gabria, Satpal Gosian have supported our cause. We have also met senior MC officials.”

However, residents who are virtually inhaling the polluted air have put up a strong disapproval against the suggestions and have sent their objections to Town Planning Wing.

The MC has strongly recommended that colonies like Vishvkarma, Partap Chowk, who have been declared fit for mixed use, remain as it is. But the residents are ready with their objections. Advocate Balbir Singh Sooch, also a resident of Vishvkarma Colony said, “All these years the residents were hoping of a Master Plan and again we are being forced to live within high pollution levels. The officers themselves should stay in these areas for a day and then decide as to whether the colonies should be declared for mixed use or not.”

Commissioner Vikas Partap, while confirming the same said, “We have suggested that if the areas over the period of time have become industrial, then they should remain as it is. But they should meet the pollution norms and standards so that residents do not face any problem.”