Illegal construction: Sidhu suspends 8 Jalandhar MC officials for violations

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 14

Local Bodies Minister Navjot Sidhu on Thursday suspended eight officials of the Town planning department for allowing illegal constructions in the district.

Conducting surprise raids in Jalandhar, the minister who inspected 35 illegal buildings in the district, suspended a Senior Town Planner (STP), two Assistant Town planners (ATPs) and two Municipal Town Planners (MTPs) along with three building inspectors.

The suspended officials include STP Parampal Singh, MTPs Meherban Singh, and Monika Anand, ATPs Naresh Mehta and Balwinder Singh and Building inspectors Pooja Mann, Neeraj Sharma and Ajit Sharma.

Sidhu said while FIRs shall also be lodged against these erring officers under Section 120 B of the IPC and Section 298 of Municipal Act, he said the action is aimed at the eventual dismissal of these officials.

Sidhu added that charge sheets were also being issued under Rule 8 of the Municipal Act against erring persons. He said the department is also closely observing the assets of these officers and in cases where discrepancies are found these shall be attached. 

Addressing a press conference right by a tent put up near an illegal colony — Gurmohar Colony – in Rama Mandi in the evening, Sidhu said, “The amount of illegal constructions which have come up in the city would not have been possible without the abetment of the officials. The cohesion of such elements with erring colonisers is causing huge revenue losses to the government. On a majority of the lands, the illegal constructions are coming up without CLUs or requisite construction certificates.

“Roof-top pubs are causing threat to the fire safety of residents. Unless some people lose their job, this menace won’t end.”

Sidhu added, “We have also recommended FIRs against illegal colonisers. I shall be coming back after a month and we shall ensure the erring persons are brought to book.”

Causing panic among officials and errant colonisers early this morning -- in the district, with his inspection straying early – Sidhu summoned MC officials including the Municipal Commissioner, ATPs, STP, MTPs at the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway. MLAs Rajinder Beri and Sushil Rinku also joined in.

Following this, accompanied by Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh, Sidhu went on whirlwind tour of various sites with illegal constructions across the national highway, bus stand, Model Town, Ladhewali and a slew of illegal colonies across the district, pointing out violations and pulling up officers.