MC to lodge FIR against encroachers

Ludhiana : Gearing up to check the mushrooming of encroachments where these had already been removed, the Municipal Corporation (MC) authorities have decided to lodge an FIR against those who encroached on land even after the illegal structures had been cleared by the civic body. This decision was taken at a high-level meeting of the encroachment monitoring committee comprising Senior Town Planner (STP) Balkar Singh Brar, Assistant Town Planners (ATP) of all four zones and non-official members. The efficacy of the civic body in dealing with encroachments came in for criticism. They said they would lodge FIRs against such people, for which recommendation must come from committees constituted under Zonal Commissioners. In another significant decision, Senior Town Planner Balkar Singh Brar asked the Municipla Corporation to remove the alleged encroachment by the Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) on 2,500 sq metres of land after the verification of facts. The non-official members also criticised the tehbazaari branch for not being able to check the growth of temporary encroachments. Inaction by the Municipal Corporation against building bylaw violators was also raised and criticised by the members of the committee. The Municipal Corporation officials faced a difficult time in replying to the queries of the non-official members. Most of their responses were reportedly not satisfactory.