Councillors resolve to act against coloniser in Jalandhar

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 23

Even though there are reports of more than 150 illegal colonies coming up under the area of Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar, but an ad hoc committee of seven councillors has decided to initiate inquiry against a big land shark, who alone is learnt to be a defaulter of Rs100 crore to the exchequer.

As per the reports of the committee headed by Congress councillor Nirmal Singh Nimma, the coloniser, who also owns a marriage palace near Jalandhar Cantonment, has been proceeding with the sale of plots in 17 illegal colonies without the payment of any licence fee and external development charges to the MC. “The coloniser has applied for 18 other colonies but the actual area at site is many times more than that shown on record and hence the payments made by him towards the MC are far too low”, alleges Nimma.

The councillors take names of few colonies run by the dealer which include Defence Colony Part 3, New Defence Colony on Phagwara Road, Panchsheel Avenue at Birring and Paragpur Royal Estate. Nimma said, “We have sought files related to the matter from Senior Town Planner Parampal Singh. We have been told today that the store keeper is away and hence the files could not be taken out. Tomorrow is holiday on account of Kabir Jayanti and we are expecting the files to be delivered to us on Friday for assessment. We have already consulted a senior advocate on the matter and we may proceed with a case against the coloniser through the vigilance wing of the Local Bodies Department.”

Nimma claims that if this single case could be taken up and recovery is made, it could act as a deterrent against hundred-plus other defaulters and illegal colonisers. “After getting the files, we will also visit the sites and cross-check the facts mentioned on the records with the actual area on ground”, he said. He said according to the report available with us, the coloniser has sold off plots in 105 acre of land near Jalandhar Cantt paying a token money of just Rs 8.8 lakh for the 18 colonies without taking due authorisation from the civic body. The councillors allege that the MC officials are hand in gloves with the officers who have allowed them to act freely without taking any due action.