Ludhiana, Nov. 16 -- Nearly Rs.20 crore in pending shop rent remains uncollected by the Municipal Corporation, even as the civic body struggles to pay salaries on time. With arrears piling up across 830 shops in major markets and repeated notices ignored, officials plan a strict recovery drive to prevent further financial losses.

According to the latest shop rent summary, the civic body is yet to collect Rs.19.87 crore in arrears, including interest and penalties, while the total outstanding balance has now reached Rs.20.06 crore.

Officials have recovered only Rs.4.17 lakh so far, a negligible sum compared to the massive dues pending for several years.

The date reveals that rent defaults are spread across all four zones of the city.

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