RTI activist protests against B&R Branch of Ludhiana MC over ‘corrupt practices’ : The Tribune India

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RTI activist protests against B&R Branch of Ludhiana MC over ‘corrupt practices’

Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu and councillor Mamta Ashu with RTI activist Rohit Sabharwal, who protested outside the MC office in Ludhiana. Photo: Ashwani Dhiman

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 10

President of the Council of RTI Activists Rohit Sabharwal sat on a one-day hunger strike against the alleged corrupt practices in the working of the MC’s Building and Road (B&R) branch today. He alleged that huge corruption in these branches of the MC had caused loss worth crores of rupees to the exchequer.

He said: “Some of the officers of the Building Branch are involved in the corrupt practices due to which they, while working in connivance with violators, are allowing the illegal constructions. “Further, they are not taking any action against permanent encroachments on public land, the value of which is several crores,” he alleged.

“As per the procedure provided under Section 269 of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, it is the foremost duty of the officers concerned of the Building Branch of the MC to demolish the constructions having non-compoundable violations after issuing notice against it. However, working on contrary, after issuance of notices, no further compliance of the issued notices is done by the officers concerned. They in return of huge benefits, provide sufficient time to the violators to complete their constructions with the non-compoundable violations. This is the reason that why non-compoundable violations are flourishing in the city,” he said.

“Some officers of the B&R Branch of the MC, while working in connivance with some of the contractors, have also drained crores of rupees from the exchequer by laying sub-standard roads in various parts of Ludhiana,” he alleged.

He has also written a memorandum to the MC Commissioner, demanding that a vigilance inquiry must be recommended against the ‘corrupt’ practices in these two branches of the MC.

Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu in presence of councillor Mamta Ashu later assured him that they will look into the matter. Sandhu said: “If any official is found involved in corrupt practices, we will take necessary action.”