Illegal commercial buildings galore, Ludhiana MC unmoved

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, May 23

Officials of the Building Branch of the Municipal Corporation continue to turn a blind eye to brazen violations of the building bylaws by unscrupulous builders. As a result, illegal commercial buildings keep mushrooming all across the city without any fear of law.

At the same time, commercial property being at a premium, a large number of residential buildings in almost every locality were openly being converted into commercial complexes.

In two separate complaints to the Principal Secretary, Local Government Department, Punjab, the Director of Local Bodies, Punjab and the Chief Vigilance Officer, Local Government, Punjab, it has been alleged that over 12 illegal buildings in Zone D and almost 24 such buildings in Zone C were under construction.

Complainants seek high-level probe

In two separate complaints to the Principal Secretary, Local Government Department, Punjab, the Director of Local Bodies, Punjab and the Chief Vigilance Officer, Local Government, Punjab, it has been alleged that over 12 illegal buildings in Zone D and almost 24 such buildings in Zone C were under construction. Complainants have made a submission that a high-level independent probe be ordered in the working of the building branch of the MC.

It has also been alleged in the complaints that the pace at which illegal commercial activity was continuing in the city, connivance of MC employees and officials could not be ruled out.

Attaching photographs of the under-construction commercial buildings, Council of RTI Activists secretary Arvind Sharma has said complex of seven shops on Main Pakhowal Road (opposite wine shop), six shops in Model House, two shops near Tikona Park (near milk booth and corner of the park) in Model Town, one shop in Model Town Extension (near Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh) and another on main Pakhowal Road (just beyond the entry point of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar) were being constructed with no apparent intervention from field staff of supervisory officials of Zone D of the building branch.

Alleging free hand given by the MC field staff to unscrupulous builders, Simratpal Singh Kalsi, president, Society for Public Welfare and Awareness, said nearly 24 shops and commercial buildings were being constructed without approved building plans and change of land use by the owners of these buildings in different localities falling in Zone C.

He maintained that most of these under-construction buildings were coming up on Star Road, Dhandari-Lohara Road, Sua Road, and in Industrial Area C, Jaspal Bangar and surrounding areas, adding that even after several complaints filed with the officials concerned with photographic evidence, no action was taken to stop the construction work and nor were the offenders proceeded against for violation of building bylaws and illegal change of land use.

Both complainants have made a submission that a high-level independent probe be ordered in the working of the building branch of the MC so that responsibility (for lapses) could be fixed and guilty or conniving employees be punished for dereliction of duty.