Strange, but true – civic officials have never bothered to scrutinise land records pertaining to five villages that were transferred from UT administration’s jurisdiction to that of the municipal corporation way back in 2006.
The records were stashed away in cupboards that have not been opened during the past ten years.
As a result, officials are not aware of land properties worth over Rs 100 crore in these villages – Hallomajra, Maloya, Dadumajra, Paslora and Kejheri.
Former mayor, Subhash Chawla said, “During my tenure, I tried my level best for scrutiny of the record, but officers failed to do so.”
It is now learnt most of the vacant land and shops in these villages have been illegally occupied after the ‘panchayats’ passed “back dated” resolutions on the properties’ ownership.
Also, the civic body does not have any information about schools, ‘janj ghars’ and ‘dharamshalas’ (inns) and ‘aganwaris’ (community centres) in the five villages.
NOCs BEING ISSUED
Moreover, in the absence of any land records, civic officials have been issuing ‘no objection certificates’ (NOCs) to the villagers on the basis of personal records, which are in the possession of the retired ‘patwaris’ (village accountants), Chawla said.
{{/usCountry}}Moreover, in the absence of any land records, civic officials have been issuing ‘no objection certificates’ (NOCs) to the villagers on the basis of personal records, which are in the possession of the retired ‘patwaris’ (village accountants), Chawla said.
{{/usCountry}}MC sub divisional engineer (buildings) Baljraj Chhikara said he had joined office one month ago only, but admitted that he had not seen any land records of the five villages at the MC.
Moreover, there is no tehsildar in the municipal corporation and once tehsildar joins, he would check the records, he said.
Another senior civic official said, “No MC official wants to check the land records as they believe it would be very complicated matter and, moreover, they haven’t been asked by senior officers to do so.”
Hardeep Singh, councillor, who represents villages said, “The entire affair has exposed how lethargically the civic body functions.”