Failure to clamp down on illegal activities lands civic body in soup

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 24

The Municipal Corporation (MC) has no mechanism to check sprawling of illegal colonies, plots and buildings in the city. So far, the civic body has failed to uncover the nexus between its officials and councillors, who extract illegal gratification for irregularities, and colonizers and contractors, who build illegal colonies and structures, in the city.

This is evident from the MC’s inability to deter construction of illegal colonies and buildings across its parameters despite laws passed and implemented by the Department of Local Government, Punjab. 

In past months, The Tribune reported about illegal colonies where construction was carried out without proper permission of the MC and officials concerned. Officials of the civic body have failed to uncover identities of those involved in illegal activities.

“The MC will seek jamabandi record of the land in Aman Bagh on the Jhill village road where illegal construction has been done. Officials of the MC expressed ignorance about identities of owners and contractors pursuing illegal construction in the colony a fortnight ago,” said Ankur Mahendru, MC Joint Commissioner. Earlier, a similar construction at an illegal colony in Manjeet Nagar on the Bhadson road was also reported, he added.

Meanwhile, in a case of extracting money by sending notices to owners of commercial buildings, a five-member committee constituted by Navjot Singh Sidhu, Minister of Local Bodies, has been tasked with reporting names of officials and councillors of the MC involved in the nexus. 

The step was taken by the minister after taking cognisance of a report published in The Tribune exposing the official-councillor nexus in clearing violations.

Later, many local residents and resident welfare associations also submitted complaints with The Tribune, which were handed over to the MC highlighting ignorance by civic body officials towards illegal buildings. 

“I have to submit a report on the matter,” said Gurpreet Singh Khaira, MC Commissioner.

Insiders in the MC said officers in the civic body were themselves running private companies dealing in providing raw material and construction of roads and buildings.