Cong councillor alleges corruption in de-sealing of bungalows

“Mr U C Padia and Mr Dilip Mahajan,the deputy municipal commissioners,who ignored the Estate Department opinion dated April 9,2009,have been entrusted with the vigilance probe against their own orders,” Thakar said in a press release,demanding transfer of the inquiry to other officers.

According to Thakar,AMC north zone deputy estate officer Nilesh Baranda,in an RTI reply to her,had said that a departmental inquiry for opening of seals revealed that these constructions could not be approved without removal of construction in the margin space.

In another letter of the same date,Baranda said the bungalows were sealed on December 24,2002,March 3,2003 and August 2,2003. But the same were removed on July 28,2003 and January 27,2004. He told Thakar that the seals were removed as per the orders issued by the then deputy commissioners (north) Capt Dilip Mahajan and U C Padia.

Curiously,Thakar sought information as late as on March 12,2009. She has said there was some understanding between a former city mayor and a deputy commissioner over removal of the seals. The seals were removed on the condition that if approval for the construction plans was not obtained within six months,then the structures would have to be pulled down.

“An undertaking to this effect was given to the AMC,but once seals were removed,no plans were presented. Constructions were completed and their use started without any permission,” she has alleged.

Municipal commissioner I P Gautam said that in fairness of things,Thakar should have approached him for transfer of inquiry to some other official instead of issuing a statement with these allegations.

“Hundreds of inquiries go on in the corporation and with a limited number of officials,a situation like the present one may emerge. In that case,the inquiry can be transferred to other officials so that an impartial probe and punishment to the guilty becomes possible,” Gautam said.