MCB in dock over inaction against illegal construction

Bathinda, June 2

The Municipal Corporation of Bathinda (MCB) has landed in the soup as details sought under an RTI query have revealed that the civic body has not taken any action against an illegal construction despite being given numerous complaints against it since the construction began.

The information received in response to the RTI query has put a question mark over the seriousness with which the MCB takes complaints against such buildings as it did just some paperwork in the name of action.

As per information, about a year and a half ago, Ishwar Jain, a resident of Neeta street, had registered a complaint with the MCB in which he had brought to the attention of officials that Kanta Rani had begun the construction of a building on a plot (No. Z/4/17492) on Khadar Bhandar street without getting the map approved from the MCB.

While the civic body failed to take note of the complaint, Jain wrote again, urging the MCB to take action as the construction was nearing completion.

After getting no response, Jain took the RTI route to gather details about the action initiated by the civic body against the building.

“Under the query, the MCB replied that it had merely sent two notices for the construction to be stopped while no official was sent to the site to make sure that it had been done. I have decided to complain against the lax attitude of the MCB to the director of the Local Bodies Department and the minister. I have documents to substantiate my claims,” Jain said.

He added that he would ask the Local Bodies Department to take strict action against the Mayor and MCB officials for taking illegal constructions so lightly. — TNS