Mayor on an inspection spree

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 16

Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu inspected 15 more buildings in different parts of the city on Saturday. Besides, the MC also demolished three illegal colonies under-construction at Lohara. The officials are already on alert after Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu suspended eight officials of Jalandhar MC’s building branch for ‘not acting against violations’.

Sandhu said he has inspected nearly 50 buildings in the last two days. “I had inspected around 35 buildings on Friday and 15 buildings on Saturday. The record of all these buildings is being checked, so that necessary action can be taken. A report about violation at these buildings would be sent to Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu.”

“In 2017-18, only 1,670 maps for buildings were approved by Ludhiana MC, whereas Bathinda MC approved more than 1,800 maps. Of 1,670 approved building maps in Ludhiana, around 1,400 were those, who had applied for bank loan,” he said.

According to information, the population of Ludhiana city is around 17.50 lakh, while the population of Bathinda is around 2.86 lakh. Sources said thousands of buildings are constructed without approval of maps in Ludhiana every year.

Sandhu said the officials have assured him that they would ensure the approval of more than 10,000 building maps during 2018-19. “It has been seen that MC officials generally act when the construction is almost completed. Now, I have directed them to take action at the initial stage,” the Mayor said.

A day after Navjot Singh Sidhu suspended eight officials of Jalandhar MC’s building branch, Ludhiana Mayor has started inspection of buildings. Sources claimed that some politicians don’t want Sidhu to visit Ludhiana for the inspection of illegal constructions and illegal colonies here.

General secretary of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Amarjit Singh Tikka said: “As a large number of illegal constructions have taken place in the city, the Local Bodies Minister should visit for the inspection of illegal buildings and colonies.”

Raj Kumar, Assistant Town Planner at MC’s Zone C, said illegal colonies were being built up near Satsang Ghar at Lohara. Illegal structures, sewer pipes and roads were dismantled at these colonies this morning, he said, adding that an illegal structure at the second floor of the building on Gill Road was also sealed on Saturday. The construction was being done without the approval of the map, he said.