Skyland Resort in the eye of storm

Gurdeep Singh Mann

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Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 9

While resorts and marriage palaces are normally associated with fuctions and celebrations, one such resort in the city is now in the eye of a storm with Mohan Lal Jhumba, district (urban) president of the Congress and chief complainant in the case raising questions on its legality.

The owner of Skyland Resort obtained a loan of Rs 1.69 crore in December 2010.

The loan was sanctioned by Punjab and Sind Bank despite the facts that its plan was allegedly not sanctioned by the competent authority, it had not obtained a fire safety certificate and it was reportedly declared unauthorised.

“A sanctioned plan is the first thing to be taken into consideration by any nationalised bank before issuing a loan,” said Mohan Lal Jhumba.

Demanding a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Jhumba has shot letters to the Finance Minister of India and Punjab Chief Minister.

Jhumba said as per the letter number 5370, dated: 15-7-2014, issued by the district town planner (DTP) to the chief administrator (CA) of the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA), it was stated that the change of land usage (CLU) of the resort had been rejected by the chief town planner of Punjab.

The reason cited was lack of any access to the resort (marriage palace). The letter states that the palace has also been declared unauthorised by the district-level committee formed for regularising the illegal marriage palaces in 2012.

As per a policy dated 16-11-2012, any marriage palace can be regularised if it gets the CLU certificate by paying prescribed fee, along with other guidelines.

Jhumba pointed out that his concern about the illegality of the palace was in larger public interest as unaware public, mostly villagers, gather in large numbers at the palace to organise marriage functions.

Despite sending umpteen complaints to the BDA, Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) and Deputy Commissioner, no action has been taking against the palace and now, he has finally decided to knock the doors of the CBI, Jhumba added.

He said the loan has been sanctioned in the name of Renu Bala, wife of Bhushan Kumar.

As per the bank records, she is the proprietor of Skyland Resort, whereas in BDA’s record, there are four partners of the resort —Bhushan Kumar, Renu Bala, Harpreet Singh and Balwinder Singh.

“The written communications between the BDA and the bank, following my complaints are carried on by Renu Bala’s husband Bhushan Kumar,” Jhumba said.

Fire officer Jaswinder Singh admitted that the marriage palace didn’t have any fire safety certificate.

MCB officials have stated that it also lacks 80-feet approach road.

“A marriage palace should have three separate entrances with enough passage for fire tender. At least three fire hydrants must be installed. As per rules, the palace should have been built in such a manner that a fire tender can rotate all around its building, but Skyland Resorts is yet to abide by any of the guidelines,” the fire officer said.

Chief Manager of Punjab and Sind Bank, Ram Lal, said, “Though I am not aware of the releasing of loan, the palace owner’s loan account has been declared an non-performing asset (NPA). An amount of Rs 50 lakh (approximately) is pending towards its owner and we have already moved an application in the office of the District Magistrate-cum-Deputy Commissioner for physical possession of the marriage palace.”

District Town Planner (DTP) Gulzar Singh Dhindsa said an area of nearly 1.23 acres was acquired by the BDA in one of the pockets of Ring Road-II (Malout-Dabwali road), but after acquisition, no entrance was left for the palace.

“But now, the BDA has offered 18-feet wide road as entrance to the ‘locked land’ after the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court,” Dhindsa said.

MCB Commissioner Anil Garg and Joint Commissioner Kamal Kant could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts.

A senior official dealing in such cases in the MCB however declared that the palace was illegal and the process of sealing it was not initiated due to political pressure.

Bhushan Kumar Dhunnike, the husband of the palace owner, claimed that they had got all sanctions, including fire safety, and denied that his loan account was declared NPA.

When informed about the complaint by Jhumba, he said, “Jhumba has no work to do other than indulging into such acts.”