House constructed on ‘unallotted’ plot

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, August 25

Thanks to poor enforcement and criminal negligence on the part of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) in safeguarding its land and properties, unlawful possession or encroachments in colonies developed by the Trust have become rampant with little or no action against the offenders.

The complaint

A city-based social activist, Nalin Kaushik, has lodged a complaint with the Punjab Chief Minister alleging that as per the record of LIT, plot number 198-B in Rajguru Nagar Colony has not been allotted to anybody nor had any money been deposited in respect of this plot. However, a residential house has been constructed on the plot by some unlawful occupants, he said.

A house has reportedly been constructed on a plot at Rajguru Nagar, which, according to Trust record, has not been allotted to anyone to date. What is more surprising is that most of the officials concerned are fully aware of the unlawful and brazen encroachment on the Trust land but nobody seems to be in a mood to take any action against the occupants or secure possession of the piece of land.

A city-based social activist, Nalin Kaushik, has lodged a complaint with the the Punjab Chief Minister alleging that as per the record of LIT, plot number 198-B in Rajguru Nagar Colony has not been allotted to anybody nor had any money been deposited in respect of this plot.

“However, a residential house has been constructed on this plot by some unlawful occupants which is a brazen act of encroachment of government land. Shockingly, the matter (of unlawful possession on the plot) is in the knowledge of certain senior Trust officials, who have failed to take any action to secure their land and evict the illegal occupants for reasons best known to them,” said the complainant.

According to the complainant, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has forwarded the complaint to the Secretary, Local Government Department, Punjab, for necessary action.

The complainant has also received a letter from the Deputy Commissioner’s office which says the matter has been referred to the Regional Deputy Director, Local Government (DDLG) at Ludhiana for seeking information from LIT and settlement of complaint under intimation to the DC and the complainant.

It has been learnt that the office of DDLG, Ludhiana, has sought information from the Trust about the present status of the plot, its allotment, details of money deposited, if any, registration of title deed, possession of the plot, construction of the house and approved building plan of the house, if any. The DDLG has directed the LIT authorities to send the detailed report so that it could be submitted to the Secretary, Local Government, Punjab.

Meanwhile, the LIT officials said the Trust had not received any complaint in this regard so far. “We are checking relevant documents with regard to allotment of the plot to any individual or housing society and a report would be sent to the government accordingly,” they added.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.