Probe illegal buildings in city: Sidhu to SDM

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 20

Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has ordered an inquiry into the large-scale corruption in the Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB). The Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Bathinda, Sakshi Sawhney, has been told to conduct a probe into illegal buildings in the city.

A local NGO, Punjab Human Rights Committee, had submitted its compliant to Navjot Singh Sidhu on March 18, 2017. In the complaint, Ved Parkash Gupta, general secretary of the committee, had alleged that hundreds of illegal buildings had been constructed in the city in connivance with some corrupt officers of the civic body.

He stated that the construction of two illegal buildings had direct connection with a senior official of the MCB.

The first building is a two-storey structure on the Mall Road opposite Hanuman Chowk and the second was in Jain Street, he said.

Gupta stated that a commercial building in Afim Wali Gali was constructed in violation of the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court as in a order passed on November 2008 it has stated that no commercial activities be allowed in Jain Street and strict action should be taken against violators of the order.

But corporation officials did not bother about the high court orders till today.

SDM Sakshi Sawhney said she had called the MCB and the complainant on May 24, 2017.

Illegal constructions are going on at a rapid pace in the city but the corporation has turned a blind eye to the issue.

Influential persons, who have good political and administrative connections, are allegedly constructing buildings without even taking the requisite approval from the Municipal Corporation.

Many illegal buildings have come up in the city in key areas such as Mall Road and Ajit Road for which builders did not even approach the department concerned for sanctions.

Municipal Corporation Bathinda officials fail to keep track of unauthorised constructions as well as visible deviations in approved plans. Once the building is constructed, officials impose a penalty and grant approval to the structure.

NGO raises issue

A local NGO, Punjab Human Rights Committee, had submitted its complaint to Navjot Singh Sidhu on March 18 this year. In the complaint, Ved Parkash Gupta, general secretary of the committee, had alleged that hundreds of illegal buildings had been constructed in the city in connivance with some corrupt officials of the Municipal Corporation Bathinda. He stated that the construction of two illegal buildings had direct connection with a senior official of the MCB.

Approval not taken

Influential persons, who have good political and administrative connections, are allegedly constructing buildings without even taking the requisite approval from the MCB. Many illegal buildings have come up in the city in key areas such as Mall Road and Ajit Road for which builders did not even approach the department concerned for sanctions.