Vigilance inspects records of civic body’s shops on rent

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 21

A Vigilance team of the Local Bodies Department has initiated a probe into the alleged irregularities by the civic body in renting out 401 shops.

Officers Harbaksh Singh, Mohinder Singh, Ramandeep Singh and Ishan Goyal were part of the Vigilance team that checked the records of the rented shops.

Three of the members checked the records at Senior Town Planner (STP) Kamaljit Kaur’s office while the fourth official checked the records at the meeting hall of the MC Commissioner.

Apart from the STP, XEN Davinder Jaura and SDO Raman Kumar were present in the room where the vigilance officials were inspecting the records. The MC officials were replying to the questions being asked by the Vigilance officials.

A few days ago, MC Commissioner Dr Rishipal Singh had written a letter to the Local Bodies Department’s Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) asking him to conduct a probe into the alleged irregularities in renting out the 401 shops at the earliest. . He also had a word with him on the entire issue.

The MC Commissioner had found irregularities in most of the rent branch files in a probe conducted by him.

While some of the shops have been given on rent without any agreement, a few have wrong affidavits. Besides, some were given on rent without any permission.

Despite having more than 400 shops, the MC is not getting a substantial amount of money in rent. Most of the shops are located in the prime markets of the city.

The Municipal Commissioner had called all files of the rent branch in his office, which are kept in the conference room.

Two employees were asked to prepare a list mentioning in which year the shops were given on rent and to whom. Besides, they were also asked to list out the current market rate of the shops.

It is also being recorded as to what rent the MC is getting from these shops and for how long the rent has not been hiked.

The MC had also directed the staff to gather full information regarding the agreement of the shops.

The MC has its shops on Mall Road, Railway Road, in Gandhi Market, Fish Market and other places. The matter of around 178 is sub judice.

Irregularities were found in inquiry

• The MC Commissioner had found irregularities in most of the rent branch files in a probe conducted by him. 
• While some of the shops have been given on rent without any agreement, a few have wrong affidavits. Besides, some were given on rent without any permission.
• Despite having more than 400 shops, the MC is not getting a substantial amount of money in rent. Most of the shops are located in the prime markets of the city.