Transfer of three officials adds to woes of Ludhiana MC building branch

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, July 22

Already grappling with shortage of technical staff, the building branch of the Municipal Corporation has now shifted three head draftsman (HDMs), working as ATPs which could further affect the work related to regulation and enforcement. Only two assistant town planners are available against the sanctioned strength of six for the city.

Realising the practical problems that the building branch could face in the absence of technical supervisory staff, the MC Commissioner and city Mayor are understood to have declined to relieve the three HDMs — Mohan Singh, Harvinder Singh and Satish Malhotra — presently officiating as ATPs in different zone.

In a communication to the Local Bodies Minister and the senior officials of Local Government Department, it has been pleaded that transfer orders of HDMs be cancelled and at the same time the required number of ATPs be provided for proper working of building branch.

While agreeing that the building branch, indeed, was handicapped due to inadequate staff strength, especially the ATPs and inspectors, sources in the MC, however, disputed the claim that staff crunch was the main reason of slack enforcement and regulatory measures against violations of building bylaws in the city.

“It is the nexus of builders, political leaders and obliging employees/officials of the building branch that is wreaking havoc on the building scenario in the city. Rather than the shortage of field staff and supervisory officials, these are the conniving employees/officials who – either under political pressure or for their personal vested interests – promoting illegal building activity in the city,” asserted the sources.

A senior official of the building branch conceded that against six sanctioned posts of ATPs, only two were posted here while against 25 posts of building inspectors, only nine were deployed. “We have been taking up the matter of staff shortage with the government but nothing worthwhile has been done so far,” the official said.