CHANDIGARH The Manohar Lal Khattar-led government in Haryana found itself on the back-foot on the issue of corruption after Congress legislator Neeraj Sharma highlighted irregularities in allotment of space for vendors in Faridabad and speaker Gian Chand Gupta forcefully backed Congress lawmakers’ demand for a high-level probe.
During the Question Hour, Sharma, who represents Faridabad NIT assembly segment, wanted to know the action government had taken in, what he said, “scam” pertaining to allotment of space for vendors in Dabua vegetable market of Faridabad and why it was not cancelled.
The MLA alleged that corruption of the highest order had taken place in allotment of space/sites and that it was in sharp contrast of government’s lofty claim about providing transparent and corruption-free governance.
In a written reply, agriculture minister Jai Prakash Dalal said the concerned secretary-cum-executive officer of market committee Faridabad was suspended in November 2019 for not following the guidelines of allotment policy. Dalal said the official was reinstated in October 2020.
As Sharma informed the House about the gravity of the matter, agriculture minister offered to hold a fresh probe, repeatedly promising that guilty will be punished.
Backing the stand of Congress MLA, speaker Gupta asked the minister: “Hold a high-level probe...very serious allegations have been levelled against the government.”
{{/usCountry}}Backing the stand of Congress MLA, speaker Gupta asked the minister: “Hold a high-level probe...very serious allegations have been levelled against the government.”
{{/usCountry}}The agriculture minister said he would hand over the probe to a senior IAS officer.
Illegal sale deeds and action taken
Responding to a question of Congress MLA Bharat Bhushan Batra, deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala said 6,223 sale deeds were registered in violation of the norms last year from February 1 to December 31.
The deputy CM said registered sale deeds violating section-7 of the Haryana Urban Development Regulation Act-1975 cannot be cancelled.
Chautala, who also holds the charge of revenue department, said the state government has chargesheeted eight registrars and sub-registrars in this regard. The case is presently under police investigation. He further said that these officers have been deployed in another division so that police investigation is not influenced.
The deputy CM said strict action was taken against illegal colonies and 2,127 FIRs were lodged against such violators. The government will continue to take strict action in such cases.
In response to another question, he said the state government has taken numerous steps to bring in transparency in the functioning of the revenue department, which has helped the people to get their land registered with ease. He further said that anyone can take online appointment for registry of land deed. Besides this, no objection certificate can also be availed online by depositing the outstanding fee.