Act against illegal constructions or face action: Ludhiana MC chief to officials

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 16

Days after opposition councillors raised the issue of illegal colonies and constructions in the Municipal Corporation’s House meeting, MC Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal on Friday gave strict instructions to building branch officials to act against all such violations in the city or face action.

He has directed Joint Commissioner Kulpreet Singh, who is looking after the building branch, to make a survey report within three days and then ensure immediate action against all illegal colonies and buildings as per law. He also recommended the officials to lodge an FIR if anyone creates obstruction in the MC action against violations.

‘Display project info boards in seven days’

As the officials concerned

failed to get project information boards displayed at various sites where development works are underway, the MC Commissioner pulled them up during the meeting. He directed them to display the project information boards within seven days. They have also been directed to check the quality of the ongoing works.

The MC chief conducted the meeting today with officials of various branches, including building branch, health, O&M and B&R branches of the civic body, at the Zone A office today.

Mushrooming of illegal buildings and constructions remained a major issue for a long time. The role of MC’s building branch always remained under the scanner but no concrete action was taken against the officials concerned. Thousands of commercial activities are also going on in residential areas under the nose of the building branch.

Ensure cleanliness in city

Sabharwal has given instructions to zonal commissioners and officials concerned to ensure cleanliness across the city. Officials have been asked to make sure door-to-door collection of waste and segregation of the same.

He gave instructions to the officials to ensure the cleanliness of Buddha Nullah banks and intensify the drive to issue challans against persons littering the drain. He also questioned some officials for issuing a low number of challans against the violators during the past six months.

Sanitary inspectors would visit areas located near the Buddha nullah and make sure that garbage must be lifted from all properties. The officials have also been directed to check and take strict action against some factories, releasing waste into the nullah through illegal outlets. The Commissioner may conduct an inspection of the drain on Monday.

As the officials concerned failed to get project information boards displayed at various sites where development works are underway, the MC Commissioner pulled them up during the meeting. He directed them to display the project information boards within seven days. They have also been directed to check the quality of the ongoing works.

Notably, the MC Commissioner had in October 2020 ordered officers that the boards at all project sites should be affixed with details of the project plan, names of contractor, officer concerned along with the date of commencement and deadline of the project work. The MC will launch a plantation drive in the city during the ongoing rainy season. Sabharwal has formed a team to identify vacant sites across the city.

“We will soon carry out the plantation drive at identified sites,” he said.

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