Issues of illegal colonies, poor road works raised in Ludhiana MC House

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 14

In the MC’s House meeting, held after a gap of over three months on Wednesday, a number of councillors raised questions over the MC’s building branch for ignoring the mushrooming illegal colonies and constructions in the city.

Some councillors accused the officials concerned of turning a blind eye towards the violations. Councillor from Ward 31 Sonia Sharma said she has been raising the matter of illegal colonies for more than the past two years but no action has been taken against such colonies. She said the water supply connections have been allowed in such colonies due to which the people in other parts of the ward are forced to face erratic water supply problems. “If no action is taken, I would be forced to hold protests,” she added.

Jaspal Singh Giaspura from Ward 30 said about 40 illegal colonies have come up in his and nearby wards but the MC’s building branch failed to act against the violations. He also said 25 showrooms and several houses have been constructed in a new illegal colony as the officials failed to pay any heed to the violation.

A few councillors also raised matters of illegal constructions and encroachments in their respective wards. Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu and MC Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal have given instructions to MTP SS Bindra to act against the illegal colonies and other violations. Sabharwal has also directed the O&M officials not to issue any new water supply connection in illegal colonies.

Poor quality works

Leader of Opposition Harbhajan Singh Dang said no work to patch potholes in roads has been conducted in the areas under his ward. He also questioned over the role of a senior officer of the B&R branch. Meanwhile, arguments were exchanged between the Mayor and Dang over the issue.

Councillor Jaspal Singh Giaspura highlighted the matter regarding poor quality of road construction/carpeting work in Ward 30. In the meeting, several councillors blamed the contractors concerned for delaying the projects in their respective wards. They demanded that the MC must blacklist such erring contractors. Meanwhile, a few councillors suggested that the MC should not release payment to contractors without getting a satisfactory certificate from the councillor concerned.

Ban single-use plastic

The MC House has given its nod to issue a notification regarding the ban on single-use plastic. For participation in the Safai Mitra Suraksha Challenge 2021-22, the MC needs to issue a notification to ban single-use plastic in the city.

CLU at dairy complexes

The House members have given their nod to allow the change of land use (CLU) at the dairy complexes on Haibowal Road and Tajpur Road. Notably, the dairies, which have been polluting the Buddha Nullah for years, are yet to be shifted outside the city limit.

Nod to other resolutions

The MC House has given a nod to a proposed amendment to the layout plan of 7.33-acres Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar on Lodhi Club Road, Ludhiana, to designate a parking site portion for a fuel station. The House members have given a nod to a resolution regarding maintenance and collection of water supply and sewer charges from LIT colonies.

The MC House members have given their nod to recruitment of engineers and other employees on the outsource basis in different branches of the civic body.

The members have also approved a resolution for issuing a no-objection certificate to some MC colonies for the implementation of a scheme under the Punjab Slum Dwellers (Proprietary Rights) Act, 2020. On the demand of councillor from Ward 2 Gurmail Singh Jajji, the House has given nod to name Bhadurke Road as Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road.

Other issues

A number of councillors expressed dissatisfaction over the working of a private firm that is handling the LED streetlights project in the city. The Mayor has asked to call an all-party meeting for further action. The issues related to stray cattle and dogs were also raised by some councillors.

Meanwhile, the Mayor announced exemption for the houses up to 125 sq yards from levy of the water supply and sewer charges. However, no resolution was presented before the House members in this regard. Even no discussion was conducted on hiked water and sewer tariffs by the Opposition councillors.

The Opposition and other councillors did not raise any issue related to the status of the solid waste management system in the city. A councillor demanded that the councillor’s salary /allowances should be increased to Rs50,000 per month.