More trouble in store for MC building branch

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, December 10

There seems to be more trouble in store for officials and field staff of building branch of the Municipal Corporation as the MC top brass has recommended to the state government (Local Government Department) that two building inspectors, Kuljit Singh Mangat and Rahul Kumar, be suspended for dereliction of duty and other misdemeanours such as conniving with unscrupulous developers and causing huge financial loss to the civic body.

Vide office memo nos. 243 and 246, both dated July 23, 2019, the Municipal Commissioner wrote to the Principal Secretary, Local Government Department, to suspend Rahul Kumar and Kuljit Singh Mangat, both building inspectors in Zone A and Zone C respectively. However, the government remained unmoved and no action has been taken against the erring officials till now.

As per the letter, Rahul was charged with compounding commercial and industrial constructions at his own level and issuing receipts of composition fee without due approval of his superiors. Further, it has been alleged that the inspector connived with owners of eight buildings in blocks 25 and 32 (1) which were constructed in violation of parking norms, FAR and building bylaws, thereby causing financial loss to the MC.

“At the same time, he had failed to stop construction of illegal buildings at preliminary stage in Guru Vihar, Gehlewal and Kaliash Nagar localities which damaged the image of MC and also caused financial loss,” the MC Commissioner asserted.

Similarly, Kuljit has been held responsible for failure to act against development of illegal colonies which led to carving of 23 colonies over an area of 95 acre and the MC had to suffer financial loss of about Rs 23 crore which could have accrued if action was taken as per provisions of PAPRA Act.

The Commissioner wrote yet another letter (7/MTP(S) A on October 3, 2019, to the Local Government Department, reiterating the recommendation for suspension of Rahul for grave irregularities, dereliction of duty and conniving with builders of illegal buildings.

Meanwhile, the Council of RTI Activists president, Rohit Sabharwal, has also filed a complaint with the Principal Secretary, Local Government, saying that even though Rahul had joined duty at the Chandigarh headquarters office as per orders of the government issued on August 30, 2019, he has been absent from dutyat the Municipal Corporation in Ludhiana (additional charge) ever since.

Sabharwal has called upon the government to dig out the truth about the absence of the said building inspector at MC in Ludhiana. He said if it was proved that Rahul had remained absent from duty (in Ludhiana), then his salary for the period of absence be deducted, and further during the pendency of inquiry, the inspector be terminated from his service for wilful absence from duty.

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