Local Bodies Dept asks MC to submit report

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 14

The Department of Local Bodies has asked the Municipal Corporation to submit a report regarding its proposal to regularise alleged encroachments at Chaura Bazaar.

In a letter written to the Municipal Commissioner, superintendent at the Department of Local Bodies, Jaspal Singh, has sought a report in this regard.

The department has asked from the civic body chief that if the proposal to regularise alleged encroachments is approved, whether the MC or government would have to face any litigation.

The department has also asked from the Commissioner about the current status of the contempt petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

In 2016 and 2018, the MC had given nod to regularisation of encroachments at Chaura Bazaar.

On the other hand, the Council of RTI Activists, had written to the Department of Local Bodies for not regularising encroachments.

In a fresh complaint to the Department of Local Bodies, Rohit Sabharwal of the Council of RTI Activists has alleged that the Municipal Corporation is providing incomplete information to the department to get the resolution approved and later, the entire responsibility to regularise the encroachments would fall upon the Department of Local Bodies.

“Earlier, the government had rejected the previous resolution regarding the regularisation of the permanent encroachments made by the shopkeepers of Chaura Bazaar. In 2018, the MC House had passed another resolution in contempt of the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. If the encroachments are regularised against the rules, we would move the court against the Department of Local Bodies and MC,” said Sabharwal.