ACB told to book S Corpn staff for violation in flats

New Delhi: The Public Grievances Commission has directed the Delhi government’s Anti-Corruption Branch to book South Delhi Municipal (SDMC) Corporation officials for alleged illegal construction in two upscale Vasant Kunj flats.
PGC member N Dilip Kumar has passed the order against this “blatant omission and commission”.
PGC had received a complaint about inaction over an SDMC demolition order dated January 1, 2015, in two flats in Sector A, Pocket C.The PGC convened its first hearing in the case in July last year and has held five hearings ever since. The assistant engineer (building) from south zone, SDMC, filed an action-taken report, stating that action couldn’t be taken against one flat due to extension of interim stay by the Appellate Tribunal of the corporation until the next date of hearing on May 31. In the latest ATR, the same officer stated again that action couldn’t be taken due to the extension of stay.
As regards the other flat, the officer said there was no file about the flat and it was never booked for any deviation. PGC said the complainant had been agitating unauthorised construction for quite some time and the corporation had done nothing even after PGC had told it to trace that file or create a new one. “The present ATR is silent about it, apparently to divert attention of PGC. This is a very clear case of conspiracy of officials of SDMC. The deputy commissioner had even visited the site but no action has been taken. The deep rooted conspiracy of officials including the deputy commissioner is visible,” the PGC said.
It further said in its April 11 order: “Suo motu action was not taken by the SDMC officials for demolition of the illegal structure and inspite of receiving repeated complaints they did not act. Furthermore, when the complainant began following it up with PGC and CM office, the file was deliberately misplaced. In the last hearing it was categorically mentioned that a criminal case would be registered, however on the request of the engineer another chance was granted. The result is inaction.”
PGC has recommended departmental action against the officers concerned and asked for a fresh ATR by June 7.