Punjab Vigilance Bureau begins probe into ‘illegal’ realty project in Nayagaon

Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 13

Advertisement

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has initiated a probe into the provisional regularisation of an illegal colony in Nayagaon.

PROBING DISPARITY

The VB is probing how it has been mentioned that the colony was established before August 18, 2007, whereas the area under the colony was already delisted from the purview of the Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900

After granting an approval to the 10-acre project ‘Hill View Estates’ of WWICS Estates Pvt Ltd in January this year, the Local Government Department had withheld its permission on certain objections raised by the Forest Department. The Local Government Department is now examining the case.

Local Bodies Minister Brahm Mohindra said, “As soon as the case regarding discrepancies in the project came to my notice, I marked an inquiry. The Chief Vigilance Officer of the department had been asked to submit a report. I am yet to get the report.”

On the basis of records of the department, the VB is probing as to how the year of establishment of the colony has been mentioned as before August 18, 2007 whereas the area under the colony was delisted from the purview of the Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900, through a notification issued on August 13, 2010.

Devinder Sandhu, promoter of the colony, said he was waiting for a response from the department regarding whether the area fell in the catchment area of Sukhna Lake or not.

“Before 2007, we had sold the land to individuals but nothing existed as such on it. It can be verified from documents. There were a few existing structures that were a part of the Golf Course Resort. All our documents pertaining to the project are complete. The land was denotified by the Forest Department and commercial activity had been permitted in the area as per an affidavit given by state the government in the court,” Sandhu said.

On the other hand, VB officials have been calling the authorities of the Local Government Department who have dealt with the case. The role of certain officials in the department is also being looked into.