Vigilance team raids Zirakpur MC premises

Satinder Pal Singh

Zirakpur, June 21

Illegal construction in areas under the jurisdiction of the Zirakpur Municipal Council has put the authorities under the scanner after a Vigilance team conducted a raid on its premises on Friday.

A team comprising officials of the Vigilance Department reached the MC office at 11 am and spent over six hours here. Officials scrutinised records of the Building Department and minutely examined the files of the buildings that were allegedly constructed illegally.

The team also collected detailed information from officials of the building branch, besides getting briefs from other employees regarding constructions under scanner and to check any irregularities in building permit allocations.

The team also visited various areas to carry an on-the-spot survey in order to check if the construction of buildings was as per the provisions allowed by the civic body. The team visited a few such buildings and photographed construction areas, sources said.

G Nageswara Rao, IPS, Director, Vigilance, while speaking with The Tribune, said during the checking, records and other documents were seized from the MC office.

He said the team had been assigned the task to conduct scrutiny from various aspects and it might take a few days. Further course of action would be taken into the matter after the completion of scrutiny of the records.

The checking was conducted following complaints pertaining to rampant illegal construction under the jurisdiction of the Zirakpur Municipal Council at the behest of certain influential political leaders.

“The officials were asked to carry out the investigation from various aspects as violations appear to be highly sensitive and glaring in nature. We will be able to reveal anything only after we complete our investigation,” said a Vigilance officer, adding that the team also confiscated files and official records pertaining to the buildings.

As per sources, the team is expected to take an exemplary action against building violators and also conniving officials. Also, the department may blacklist architects who will be found to have got building plans approved for commercial and other buildings constructed illegally in the city.

Plaints regarding ‘illegal constructions’

The checking was conducted following complaints pertaining to rampant illegal constructions under the jurisdiction of the Zirakpur Municipal Council at the behest of certain influential political leaders.