LUDHIANA: In a major setback to the civic authorities, the local bodies director has issued orders for termination of contract with a private firm which was hired by Ludhiana
municipal corporation for construction of 250 shops in Sarabha Nagar. This has been done after a vigilance inquiry conducted by chief vigilance officer
Sudeep Manak. The local bodies department has also asked for names of erring officials who were responsible for the construction of these shops, which were reportedly built in violation of norms.
MC had hired a firm for construction of 250 shops under BRS Nagar flyover which were named smart market of the city. However, hue and cry was raised when some RTI activists complained about violations and faulty terms and conditions. In the letter to MC the local bodies department has mentioned that proper planning of shops should have been done before floating expression of interest, tenders and agreements and smart vending market shops size should also have been fixed as per street vending act. Its building plan should have been approved by some competent authority before execution of project work. Moreover departments like PWD, National Highway Authority of India,
irrigation department and police should have been consulted for permission. Also the allotment criteria and rate of shops should have been fixed by MC and private firm jointly.
It has also been pointed out that agency should have been asked for parking plan, emergency exit and shops layout plan before allotment of tenders. The officials have been asked to check all parameters before taking up the project again.
The MC Commissioner Jaskiran Singh confirmed that the instructions have been received to cancel the contract and action would be taken in accordance with the law after taking a legal opinion. Notably, MC had proposed to construct these shops last year. It was proposed to allot these shops to vendors and vending zone was to be developed. But neither parking proposal was made nor NOC was obtained from irrigation department on whose land these shops were to be developed. The irrigation department had also recommended FIR against MC for starting the construction work without their approval. However the work of shops was also stopped. Even the rates which were fixed were not genuine and MC was not going to avail any gains through this agreement. Meanwhile the role of officials who had made recommendations in favour of the firm has also come under close scrutiny.
The local bodies director Karnesh Sharma said they have asked the MCL to take appropriate action and cancel the agreement with firm as per norms. The chief vigilance officer Sudeep Manak had also visited on May 25 at the construction site and collected the project details. The work was started by the company but it was stopped when matter was highlighted in the media that irrigation department did not give NOC to MC for the shops.