A fresh civic issue has emerged in Jalandhar’s Model Town area after environmental activist and Punjab Bachao Morcha President Tejasvi Minhas raised concerns over alleged illegal construction on public land outside Shivani Park, opposite Punjab & Sind Bank.
Complaint submitted to government officials
In a complaint submitted to senior Punjab government officials, including the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Municipal Commissioner Jalandhar, Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner of Police, Minhas has sought immediate intervention to stop the ongoing construction and protect what he claims is municipal land meant for public use.
Statements in the complaint
According to the complaint, unidentified individuals have allegedly occupied a portion of public land and started construction work. The complaint states that excavation has already been carried out and foundation walls measuring around 2–3 feet in height have been built at the site.
Issues to the residents
The issue has raised concerns among residents because the land in question has reportedly been used as a public parking area for years. Model Town is already a densely populated and commercially active area where parking remains a major challenge. Any reduction in available public parking space could further add to the difficulties faced by residents, shopkeepers and visitors.
Need and legality of the construction
Minhas has questioned the need and legality of the construction, especially since newly renovated public toilets are already available at Shivani Park. The complaint argues that any new structure on the site should be verified for legal ownership, permissions and compliance with municipal regulations before allowing further development.
Request to the MC
The activist has requested the Municipal Corporation Jalandhar to immediately halt the construction, verify the ownership status of the land, remove any unauthorised structure and initiate legal action against those responsible if violations are found.
Evidence along the complaint
As part of the complaint, geo-tagged photographs captured at the location on July 24, 2026, were submitted to the authorities as evidence. The photographs and location details were also shared with officials from the Assistant Town Planner (ATP) and Municipal Town Planner (MTP) offices, urging them to act before a permanent structure comes up.
The matter once again highlights the growing concerns around protection of public spaces in rapidly developing urban areas. Public land, whether used for parking, parks or community facilities, often becomes vulnerable to encroachment due to increasing pressure on city spaces.
While the allegations are yet to be verified by the Municipal Corporation, the complaint has put the spotlight on the need for timely inspections, transparency in land records and strict action against unauthorised construction.
For Model Town residents, the key question now remains whether authorities will step in before the alleged construction turns into a permanent structure or whether another public space will be lost to encroachment
