Illegal buildings mushroom as MC fails to initiate action

BATHINDA: Illegal buildings are mushrooming in the city as the Municipal Corporation (MC), Bathinda, has failed to keep a check on them. As per the information received through the RTI, more than 250 illegal buildings have come up in the past five years.

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 9

Illegal buildings are mushrooming in the city as the Municipal Corporation (MC), Bathinda, has failed to keep a check on them.

As per the information received through the RTI, more than 250 illegal buildings have come up in the past five years. Many illegal buildings are either being constructed or have come up at various places, including GT Road, Hanuman Chowk, Basant Vihar, Pukhraj Colony, Amrik Singh Road and Nai Basti.

There are a few buildings which were demolished during the previous SAD-BJP government. Even notices were issued to the owners of these buildings. Now, these buildings are again being constructed under the patronage of political leaders.

The MC is also suffering losses due to the construction of these illegal buildings as residents are constructing them in residential areas for commercial purposes. They are not even paying the CLU (change of land use) charges to the civic body.

Many complaints of corruption have also been lodged with higher officials but till date, no action has been taken against any official. Residents say ‘bribes’ were paid to MC officials and councillors did not speak due to their vote bank.

On being asked about it, officials of the building branch said, “Please tell us about any particular building. We will get it checked.”

Mayor Balwant Rai Nath said, “I will get it checked. Strict action will be taken against the violators and as per norms, the CLU fee would be taken from them.”

Earlier this year, a probe panel was constituted to investigate the illegal buildings in the city, but no action was taken. Councillors, who were members of the panel, said why they would take any blame for initiating action against anyone as it was not their job.

A list of 175 illegal buildings was tabled at a meeting of the MC. Later, Deputy Mayor Gurinderpal Kaur Mangat, who was heading the probe panel, asked the SDM probe the whole issue.

Thereafter, the SDM wrote to Deputy Commissioner Diprava Lakra requesting him to direct the MC Commissioner to probe into the illegal buildings. The panel was dissolved without taking action.

MC faces losses due to illegal constructions

Many illegal buildings are either being constructed or have come up at various places, including GT Road, Hanuman Chowk, Basant Vihar, Pukhraj Colony, Amrik Singh Road and Nai Basti.
There are a few buildings which were demolished during the previous SAD-BJP government. Even notices were issued to the owners of these buildings. Now, these buildings are again being constructed under the patronage of political leaders.
The MC is suffering losses due to the construction of these illegal buildings as residents are constructing them in residential areas for commercial purposes. They are not even paying the CLU (change of land use) charges to the civic body.