Ludhiana: With the issue of illegal colonies hogging limelight following opposition’s attack during the MC general house meeting recently, officials of the building branch have submitted a list of 55 illegal colonies under zone C. List of such colonies in four other zones is yet to be released. Notably, despite recommendation of registration of FIRs, no action has been taken so far against the developers of these colonies under the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act (PAPRA).
In the list, around 20 colonies, set up in around 95 acres, are under vigilance radar as there are allegations against an MC building inspector of illegally helping the developers. Under the regularization policy of 2018 too, not many developers had come forward to get themselves registered. And out of those, very less colonies were declared regularized.
Ludhiana: Following a warning from MC commissioner Pardeep Sabharwal, who had given officials just two days to kick off a cleanliness drive in Buddha Nullah, the authorities resumed the work on Saturday.
Sabharwal had warned the officials concerned of action if the drive was a non-starter. The cleanliness around Buddha Nullah becomes crucial in rainy season, which otherwise results in waterlogging and flooding in localities around the drain.
On Saturday, the officials were on the field at 6am. They checked the sites where garbage was getting piled up. The officials claimed that pile-ups were near Madhopuri, Tibba Road and Peeru Banda area. Heaps of garbage lying at the dumps near the drain or at other locations were also checked.
Ludhiana: After a pandemic-induced hiatus, the municipal corporation has again started the drive to make Buddha Nullah garbage free. The officials have been given just two days to clear heaps of garbage from inside and outside the drain or face action. On Saturday, the staff will check waste segregation around the drain and at other dumps.
The MC had launched the drive to rid the drain of garbage in December last. It continued for about three months and came to a halt when Covid cases started rising. However, on Friday, MC commissioner Pardeep Sabharwal was furious over its discontinuation. He asked the staff to consider their duties seriously, if they expect salaries in time. The health branch and other officials were asked to ensure piles of garbage were removed from inside and outside the drain.
LUDHIANA: The issues of illegal colonies, water scarcity and shoddy roadwork dominated municipal corporation’s general house meeting at Guru Nanak Bhawan on Wednesday. As the councillors demanded immediate action, mayor Balkar Sandhu and MC commissioner Pardeep Sabharwal directed the officials to remove illegal colonies at the earliest.
BJP councillor Sonia Sharma said, “I have been raising the issue of illegal colonies in the ward for the past two years. I had first lodged a complaint on September 19, 2019, but to date no action has been taken. Water supply in the ward got affected as load on the amenities increased.”
Echoing her, Akali Dal councillor Jaspal Giaspura said, “Around 40 illegal colonies have mushroomed in wards 30 and 31, but building branch officials remained mum. There is one colony about which I have been complaining for the past two years. The officials did not act despite my submitting proofs. About 12 areas are worst affected by water scarcity in summ
(Representative image)
LUDHIANA: If the residents cut or prune trees without permission from the civic body, they will have to bear the brunt of the authorities who have decided to recommend FIRs against such defaulters. Also, the civic officials are told to identify those trees that are almost dead.
Since these trees can pose threat to people or public properties during the rainy season, these are recommended to be removed. The civic authorities are planning to plant new trees at the place of previous ones during plantation season.
In the orders issued by the municipal corporation (MC) commissioner Pardeep Sabharwal, it is stated that sometimes it has come to the notice of civic officials that shopkeepers prune or cut the trees brutally because they were covering the boards of their shops or clear vision of the shops or houses was getting disturbed.