SATISH HANDA
After Anil Vij took charge of Urban Local Body (ULB) minister the officers and staff of entire municipal corporations and municipal committees in Haryana state including twin city Ambala over-looked to take action against irregularities in past years came into action against large number of properties, commercial buildings and banquet halls in the district owned by influential persons. Most of the owners of these commercial buildings were not paying property tax worth crores of rupees causing heavy revenue loss to state government, besides having illegal possession over government properties in-spite of the fact lease period of such properties expired long ago, some of them include Indian Oil Corporation terminal supplying petrol and diesel to several states in North, IDDC a unit of industrial department, several reputed educational institutes, private hospitals and commercial buildings. Vinod Nehra Executive Officer Municipal Corporation Ambala Cantt told that notices have been issued to as many as 34 defaulter lease holders likely to face stern action including legal proceedings to seal them.
Municipal Commissioner Ambala Parth Gupta and Executive Officer Municipal Committee Ambala Cantt Vinod Nehra told media persons that according to Mohinder Singh Fire Station Officer a recent survey in about 300 industrial units out of total number of nearly 500 units in municipal area in Ambala Cantt observed that nearly 130 industrial units were found not obtained no objection certificate towards fire safety equipment installed in their factories from the department and nearly 61 commercial buildings in Ambala Cantt were not having fire safety equipments installed in their premises. He further disclosed that 10 banks, four colleges, 12 petrol filling stations, 20 restaurants, two showrooms and 13 private hospitals failed to produce no objection certificate obtained from fire department or show fire safety equipment in stalled in their premises. He said, out of total number of 500 industrial units, in municipal area survey work has been completed in 206 units and only 76 units were found having no objection certificate obtained from fire department.
Nehra said, a fresh survey of all marriage palaces, banquet halls, paying guest houses and commercial buildings is being conducted and action would be taken against all those found running illegally and report would be submitted to Urban Local Body department. He said, Punjab and Haryana High Court intervened into the matter and constituted a policy to regularize such commercial houses in 2013 and according to this policy there was requirement of all safety norms available in these premises including wide approach road in these commercial buildings. Then ruling government in Haryana state had thoroughly conducted a survey of 328 marriage palaces and banquet halls in 39 municipalities. He said, fresh survey work is under process, which indicates that large number of new marriage palaces and banquet halls have been constructed since after year 2013 violating directions as per Haryana Municipal Building By-laws 1982 according to which there is requirement of minimum2000 square meters area for a marriage palace or a banquet hall having minimum 12 meters wide approach road and all safety measures including no objection certificate from fire department. Nehra said, survey work would be completed within two weeks and report would be submitted to Urban Local Body department to take action against those having irregularities
