Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, July 29

Sounds incredulous but going by a complaint lodged with the Punjab Government by a city-based social activist, as many as 102 illegal commercial buildings have either already been fully constructed or are near completion in several parts of the city. Of these, 93 buildings lie in Zone A and nine in Zone B. On the face of it, the building branch of the Municipal Corporation (MC) has not taken any action at all or at most, notices for violation have been issued without any further follow up action as per the rules.

In a complaint lodged with the Principal Secretary, Local Government Department; Director, Local Bodies; Chief Town Planner, Local Government; and Chief Vigilance Officer, Local Government Department, Punjab, city-based social activist Gajjan Singh Jassal has alleged that while construction of hundreds of illegal buildings was continuing with impunity in Zones A and B, the field staff (building inspectors) and their supervisory officials (Assistant Town Planners concerned) were turning a blind eye to these blatant violations.

Supporting his complaint with photographic evidence of all illegal commercial buildings, Jassal said all such commercial and industrial buildings had been constructed without approved building plans, without paying change of land use (CLU) charges and other violations, like excess coverage and inadequate parking space, had also been committed.

The complainant further said that it was beyond comprehension as to how so many buildings (most of them multi-storeyed) were constructed right under the nose of the MC, without evoking any kind of reaction. “If at all any action has been taken against the builders of these complexes, it remains on paper,” said Jassal, while demanding disciplinary action against MC officials concerned.

Municipal Town Planner SS Bindra said around 40 out of the 102 buildings were outside the jurisdiction of the MC where no action could be taken. About the other alleged illegal buildings, the ATPs concerned had been directed to issue notices or take follow up action if notices had been served. They had also been asked to certify that no financial loss had been caused to government exchequer by these buildings, he maintained.

“We shall deal strictly with the defaulters and nobody would be spared,” the MTP added.