Lucknow: A delegation of the Uttar Pradesh Adarsh Vyapar Mandal, led by its State President Sanjay Gupta, met Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak at his residence on Wednesday to discuss concerns arising from notices issued to traders following the recent fire incident in Aliganj.
During the meeting, the delegation submitted a memorandum highlighting the large-scale notices reportedly being issued and pasted on commercial establishments by the Fire Department, Housing Development Council, and the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA). The traders expressed apprehension that strict enforcement actions could adversely affect thousands of businesses and livelihoods across the city.
Sanjay Gupta stated that, according to information available from LDA officials, only a small percentage of buildings in the state capital have approved maps. He warned that large-scale sealing or demolition drives could create significant disruption, putting the livelihoods of thousands of traders and employees at risk and affecting a much larger population dependent on these businesses.
While raising these concerns, Gupta emphasized that safety measures must remain a priority. He said that preventing future incidents would require collective, practical, and long-term efforts involving government agencies, traders, and citizens. He added that the Adarsh Vyapar Mandal is actively working to create awareness among traders about fire safety and disaster preparedness, encouraging the installation and maintenance of essential safety systems in commercial establishments.
Responding to the delegation, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak assured the traders that no businessman would be subjected to unnecessary harassment. He reiterated the government’s commitment to balancing public safety requirements with the interests of the trading community.
The delegation included State President Sanjay Gupta, City General Secretary Sanjay Trivedi, and City General Secretary Mohit Kapoor. The meeting focused on finding practical solutions that ensure compliance with safety norms while protecting the livelihoods of traders and maintaining economic activity in the city.
The interaction is being seen as an important step toward addressing traders’ concerns in the aftermath of the Aliganj fire incident while strengthening awareness and implementation of fire safety measures across commercial establishments in Lucknow.
