Jalandhar, July 23
Terming certain ideas on local bodies reforms, announced by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal in the city yesterday, as impractical, the residents have said such announcements seemed to have rather been made in a haste.

The residents said while most of the announcements had been made to appease voters, the reforms, once implemented, would instead promote prevailing illegalities in urban areas. “It is the plot owners of illegal colonies or those having illegal water connection who are going to benefit the most,” they rued.

Even the builders and architects are rather perplexed than pleased. Realtor Anil Chopra opined that before making an announcement on clearance of change of land use (CLU) at the local level, the government should had formed regulatory bodies on this in the cities so that the local officers and leaders did not misuse it.

“A senior officer must head such a body or else there could be total anarchy. The moment you loosen the reigns slightly, there are certain elements who would immediately start taking undue benefits. A check has to be maintained,” he said.

An MC approved architect, Rajinder said he was averse to the idea of making architects accountable for any violation of the building bylaws by self-certification scheme. “It is not practically feasible. The MC has to keep supervision in its own hands. Being into private practice, we cannot take any responsibility. Deviations from the approved plans are common and clients often want construction to be carried out in the way they wish it to be. If we ask them to fall in line, they would rather throw us out of the project midway blocking our payments,” he argued.

The MC officials, especially from the town planning section, too were a bit upset today. “Since morning, people have been calling us to clear their CLU cases. When we told them that we could not, they started arguing that the Deputy CM had said that a rule had been passed on the issue. It was only after much effort that we managed to convince them that there was no notification and guidelines on this as of now,” said an officer.

Amardeep Samra, a property dealer, too made his point. “I do not think that our country is ready for self-certification system. I appreciate the idea of CLU clearance at the local level. As per the old practice, the file has to move through the offices of Director, Local Bodies, Chief Town Planner and Secretary, Local Bodies. With less hands involved, it could be cleared at least three months in advance.” He, however, pointed out that the idea of allowing non-construction period up to 15 years seemed quite unlikely.

Residents are also upset over the fact while the MC has already assigned the door-to-door survey of the city to pinpoint illegal water connections, there was no point in slashing penalties by less than as much as 12 times from people approaching on their own for one-time settlement. 

Hoshiarpur, July 23
With the arrest of three persons near Dhobbighat here on Friday evening, the police busted an inter-state gang of fraudsters who used to sell cars, financed on fake documents from banks and finance companies. Those arrested were identified as Gurjit Singh, Vijay Kumar (both of Phillaur) and Balwant Singh of Shahkot.

The police nabbed Gurjit Singh with a Tata Safari after intercepting the vehicle on the circular road of Bhangi Choe near Dhobbighat. Gurjit was bringing the car, with a fake number plate, to sell it at Hoshiarpur.

Briefing the media on the gang’s modus operandi, SP (D) Randhir Singh Uppal said Rajesh Bhasin of Faridabad in connivance with some bank officials and financers first used to get the cars, financed in the name of fake persons. After getting the delivery, these vehicles were sent to Gurjit Singh, Naninder Singh of Partapra and Pavitar Singh of Haripur Khalsa, who on their part prepared fake RC and insurance cover note; put fake number plates on the vehicles and sell these to people mainly in Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and other major cities of Punjab.

Rajesh Bhasin was supplying vehicles to the aforesaid persons for the last 5 years.

Importantly, the police recovered 13 cars ((5 Indica cars, 3 Scorpio and one each of Tata Safari, Tavera, Zen, Endeavor, Sakoda) and 2 motorcycles after arrested Gurjit Singh. The market price of these vehicles was estimated at about Rs 1.10 crore.

Vijay Kumar and Balwant Singh used to prepare fake documents for new vehicles and supply the same to Gurjit Singh and his partners. They were agents at Phillaur.

A case under Sections 379, 411, 420, 465, 467, 469, 471 and 120-B of the IPC has been registered.