Staff crunch hits functioning of MC building branch

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, June 16

Remaining in the news mostly for wrong reasons, the ill-famed building branch of the Municipal Corporation finds itself working against heavy odds.

On the basis of information made available on sanctioned posts and members of field staff and supervisory officials deployed in the city, it would be an understatement to say that the building branch is facing a severe staff crunch.

“Against the 21 sanctioned posts of building inspector (the field staff), there are just seven inspectors. Against the requirement of six posts of assistant town planner (ATPs), only two ATPs are available. The charge of ATPs has been given to three head draftsmen. Only one Municipal Town Planner (MTP) has been deployed against the sanctioned posts of two. The top-most post of Senior Town Planner (STP) is also lying vacant,” says a letter written by the MC to the Principal Secretary, Local Government Department, Punjab, on June 6.

Requesting anonymity, an official of the building branch said, “The branch is blamed for failure to check the proliferation of illegal buildings in the mega city. But how can we perform with just one-third or one-fourth of the required staff strength. Allegations of corruption or collusion with violators are mostly false. Just imagine the plight of field staff and supervisory officials who have to withstand political pressure from 95 councillors, not to talk of the ministers, legislators and leaders of the ruling party.”

Insiders in the MC further said it was not uncommon that the moment any illegal building was identified and served a notice that senior MC officials or some political leaders intervened and any penal action or demolition, if warranted, is not carried out. “In most such cases, the staff of the building branch is blamed, which is wrong,” said another member of field staff of the building branch.

Highly placed sources in the MC maintained that a majority of illegal buildings, either under-construction or having been completed in various parts of the city, had come up with political patronage. Citing the manner in which political leaders, including councillors, manipulate staff and officials of building branch, sources reveal that only a couple of days ago an illegal building was sealed in a posh area of the city and then unsealed in a matter of few hours due to political pressure.

“So, next time you come across any violation of building bylaws or an illegal building under construction in the city, blame it on delinquent building branch or a political leader. There are even chances of your being correct in both cases,” as a supervisory official of MC aptly summed up the prevailing malady.

Against requirement of six ATPs, only two working

• Against the 21 sanctioned posts of building inspector (the field staff), there are just seven inspectors 
• Against the requirement of six posts of assistant town planner (ATPs), only two ATPs are available
• The charge of ATPs has been given to three head draftsmen 
• Only one Municipal Town Planner (MTP) has been deployed against the sanctioned posts of two
• The top-most post of Senior Town Planner (STP) is also lying vacant.