Allotment of plots by Ludhiana Improvement Trust under vigilance scanner

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, August 5

The Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) is in the news again for the wrong reasons. Amidst complaints of grave irregularities in allotment of residential plots under locally displaced persons (LDP) category in violation of government directions and remission of non-construction fee (NCF) of the plots, already allotted but no construction having been done for several years, the Vigilance Wing (Chief Vigilance Officer) in Local Government Department, Punjab, has sought explanation from top brass of the trust.

Several complaints were lodged with the Punjab Government at the highest level where allegations were levelled against senior LIT officials that residential plots, under probe by Vigilance Bureau, were allotted in violation of government directions to the applicants in the LDP category.

“Not only this, the NCF worth several lakhs has been remitted in many cases of allotment of residential plots on the basis of false reports of construction by senior LIT officials in connivance with certain property dealers, and in the process large sums of money have changed hands,” says city resident Karamjit Singh, one of the complainants.

In another complaint, Kunal Sharma had alleged that gross irregularities were committed in remission of NCF in plot numbers 9-H and 16-C in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar after deals were struck with certain property dealers having affinity to LIT officials.

The Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of Local Government Department, in a letter (dated June 28, 2021) to the LIT Chairman, has sought clarification for remission of NCF (worth several lakhs) in the case of plot number 9-H (in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar) on the ground that a dwelling unit had been constructed on the said plot. “However, a complaint with recent photograph of the so called construction, had challenged the decision saying the construction could not be termed as a dwelling unit in accordance with standing guidelines of the government in this regard,” pointed out the CVO.

It was also noteworthy that the Director of Local Bodies, Punjab, had also issued directions to all improvement trusts in the state that except for those plots which were under vigilance enquiry, plots in the LDP category could be allotted by the trusts at their own level as per prevailing rules and guidelines. “These directions have also been violated by the LIT in certain cases,” another complainant alleged.

False and frivolous complaints, says LIT

Executive Officer, LIT, Kuljit Kaur termed these complaints as false and frivolous. She said neither the complainant was traceable nor any further proof of irregularities was provided. She, however, added that directions have been issued to look into the matter and action would be taken as per rules.