Divisional Commissioner Dr. Subodh Agarwal today inspected the held at Nagar Parishad. The sudden visit of the Commissioner took the officials of Nagar Parishad unawares.

Dr. Agarwal went to each counter in the camp and asked about the work progress on allotting “Pattas”, and enquired from the Nagar Parishad Officials and Councilors on the delay in issuing “Pattas”. Parishad officials and ward councilors explained the reasons, but the Divisional Commissioner was quite unsatisfied with the progress of the Nagar Parishad in allotting “Pattas”, as told to UT by the Commissioner.

28 Pattas, out of the 128 prepared yesterday as per government norms, were allotted towards evening to the eligible land owners. A survey of 16 Kacchi Basti’s has been carried out during the course of the period that the “Prashsan Shehron ke Sang” camp is being organized. 1,335 houses were covered in this survey and have resulted in an income of more than Rs. 1 Lac to the exchequer. Mismanagement and negligence was rampant as many people were seen wandering here and there to complete their file but not much support was shown by the present Officials.

Ravindra Pal Singh, a resident of Sikh Colony said that though houses had been constructed in the colony decades ago, when there was no issue of leaving a ‘setback’, the officials were being unreasonable in asking for huge fines to regularize these houses. Patta’s in “No Construction Zone” can be allowed ONLY if the colony is established before 17.01.97.

Dr. Subodh Agrawal showing photo in his mobile of people bathing in Fatehsagar lake this morning

Dr. Subodh Agarwal, on being asked by UT correspondent, on why Pattas were not being allotted to constructions in the “No Construction Zone“ in spite of colonies being established well before the High Court Notification, said that, “Patta’s of State Grant can be allotted in “No Construction Zone” also, if the colony has been established before 17th January 1997, the date of notification of the High Court on “No Construction Zone”; if any resident of such a colony has legitimate proof of the occupancy of land before the said date and had an occupancy for the same (for General category before 1965 and for ST/SC before 1985).

Such citizen can move the file asking for the allotment of “Pattas” for which the State has discretionary powers”.

Nagar Parishad officials earlier rejected plea of some of the residents of such wards near the lakes saying that the aforesaid land comes under “No Construction Zone”.