File affidavit on number of cops in Mullanpur police station, nearby area, official shortage: Punjab and Haryana HC to DGP 

The directions to the Punjab DGP have been issued by the division bench of Justices G S Sandhawalia and Vikas Bahl.

The petitioner, RWA of Eco City-1, had raised several issues of the residential area before the HC, including the blocked sewerage treatment plant (STP ) and the non-functioning lights in the colony creating a law and order problem at night.

During the previous hearing, the HC had sought a detailed status report from the Punjab government and GMADA.

During the resumed hearing of the matter, the HC directed the Punjab DGP to file an affidavit detailing the number of police personnel allocated to the police station of Mullanpur, the adjoining area and the shortage of officials.

The HC told the DGP to ensure that the shortage is redressed and the SHO concerned should ensure that police personnel are stationed at relevant points by increasing the number of police pickets so that instances of theft and chain snatching are brought down.

On another aspect brought to the notice of HC that Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital in Medicity is disposing of its medical waste without adhering to rules, the HC asked the petitioner’s counsel to take steps to implead the said hospital and “if the said allegations are correct, it is open to the respondents to issue show cause notice to the said hospital to rectify the illegality at the earliest”.

In respect of the slum colony situated at shamlat deh of Mullanpur Garibdas village, the HC ordered the GMADA that “necessary action be also taken for removal of the said jhuggis and status report be also filed in this regard”.

Earlier, during the course of hearing, a status report was filed by Moneesh Kumar, chief administrator, GMADA, contending that on June 7, 2024, a monitoring cell comprising  superintending engineer (C), superintending engineer (electrical) and divisional engineer (Phase-2) concerned has been constituted after this court was seized of the matter on May 31, 2024.

On this submission of GMADA, the HC remarked that “apparently, the respondents were sleeping on the said claims of the petitioners prior to that”.

Terming the STP in the area a disturbing factor, the Bench observed that “…there are only two portable STPs of 0.6 MLD installed and the work of STP 4 MLD capacity now has been allotted to one M/s 21st Century Enviro Engineers Limited, which has undertaken 60 per cent of the allotted work and the remaining work would be completed by September, 2024, and the STP would be operational in the month of October, 2024…it transpires that the development agency — M/s Larsen and Toubro — was required to construct the STP and there was a dispute and it is thus apparent that the STP was never set up…”

Accordingly, the details of the dispute be also brought on record as apparently the township has been set up on account of portable STPs which would show that basic amenities are not available whereas GMADA is charging extension fees and other charges from the landowners without providing any basic facilities, asserted the division bench.

Noting that sewerage pump of 15 horse power had been installed at portable STPs apart from two flood pumps of 10 horse power at the site to overcome waterlogging in the area, the HC ordered that “steps be taken to ensure that sewerage is not discharged into the storm water or pumped into the underground water as there are chances of infection and contamination”.

The HC ordered GMADA to rectify the non-working streetlights and sort out the issue of nuts and bolts of electric poles being sold by rag pickers.

The bench ordered PSPCL to file a status report on the issue of only single-phase supply being provided in the area, due to a fault in the underground wiring, whereas three-phase meters have been installed. The HC also asked for the necessary site plan to be provided showing connectivity to Chandigarh and Mohali so that the problem of traffic congestion can be looked into.