Amidst reports of stalling, official says drive to continue

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 17

While the past two days – ever since Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu initiated the drive against illegal buildings in the district – have seen a number of demolitions of major structures amidst protests and murmurs (within and without the Congress), the major action under the drive, slated to be continued on Monday, remain steeped in ambiguity as senior MC functionaries in Jalandhar on Sunday claimed the demolitions were being stalled.

Director, Local Bodies of the state, Karnesh Sharma, however, has stated the drive continues and it would be business as usual at the MCJ on Monday. Mayor Jagdish Raja said, “There are instructions to stall the drive. From tomorrow, the demolitions are going to be stalled, while the other MC action shall continue.”

Sources in the corporation said there had been instructions from the department that the demolitions were to be stalled from Monday onwards. And instead of demolitions, the sealing of buildings shall be held. Officials in teams, which had conducted the demolitions on Saturday, said they had been told to wait until Monday morning, from whence further instructions on the issue shall be given to them.

The MC Commissioner had, on Saturday, stated that the demolitions and proceedings by the MC were going. Sources in the MC said there had been instructions from the top for MC officials to go slow on the drive and to seal illegal buildings rather than demolish these. While the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation had on Saturday stated that the demolition proceedings would continue as usual, Sidhu’s action had also come under heavy criticism from the opposition as well as well as Congress’ own MLAs, with MLA Sushil Rinku even climbing atop a JCB machine to stall the drive.

Meanwhile, unrelenting on his stance, Rinku said he would continue to oppose the demolition whenever it continues.

SAD leader Pawan Tinu also held a press meet condemning Sidhu’s action today, terming these as detrimental to people.

Karnesh Sharma, Director, Local Bodies, said, “There are no instructions to stall the drive. These would continue as usual. We shall seal the buildings meant to be sealed and demolish the ones meant to be razed.” Sharma denied that the government was under any pressure to stall the drive.

Speaking on the proceedings to lodge FIRs against the suspended officials, Sharma said, “The proceedings are on and files were being prepared. The MC officials in Jalandhar have already made several complaints to the Police Commissioner. With the completion of the proceedings, the final FIR shall also be filed.”

Commissioner, MC, Jalandhar, Basant Garg, could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Meanwhile, in Kapurthala on Sunday to monitor the repair of heritage buildings in the district, the Local Bodies and Tourism Minister reiterated that the government would continue its stand against illegal colonisers and builders and the drive shall continue.