Panel recommends demolition of mall

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Narnaul, August 17

An inquiry committee headed by the City Magistrate has recommended demolition of the district’s first shopping mall being developed in front of DC/SP’s official residences in Narnaul city after finding gross violation of norms by its owners in connivance with Narnaul Municipal Council officers.

Sources said the panel had also recommended criminal proceedings under the IPC, 1860, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, against the then Executive Office (EO) and Building Inspector (BI) of the council for not taking any action against the violators. It had also advised that permission for the construction of the mall be withdrawn immediately, they said.

The sources maintained that a local influential political leader, who played an instrumental role in the unauthorised construction of the mall and protecting the violators from official action, was behind the act.

An inquiry panel, comprising District Town Planner, Narnaul Municipal Engineer and the City Magistrate, was set up by then Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sanjeev Verma on June 21 following a complaint filed with CM Window. Verma had ordered a probe into the matter.

The complaint alleged the mall was being built by violating the map sanctioned for the purpose and flouting all other norms. He alleged the owners were hand in glove with the EO and the BI, who were allowing unauthorised construction purposely.

“The officers said the mall was being constructed throwing norms to the wind. The panel states action under Section 208 was required in the case, but the officers did not initiate the process, which helped the mall owners straightway,” said the sources.