Chandigarh, February 4: The city Mayor and senior officers were taken aback today when representatives from 13 UT villages alleged that MC officials were demanding a bribe of Rs 50,000 for allowing illegal construction and Rs 200 for keeping cattle (per head).
A meeting of former sarpanches of all villages that recently came under the jurisdiction of the MC was called by Mayor Rajesh Kalia to address civic issues, but they alleged that officials were asking for a bribe for several works in their villages.
During the meeting at the MC office, a village representative alleged that some officials were taking Rs 50,000 as bribe for allowing a single illegal construction in the village.
The officials, the representative said, were also claiming that a share of the amount would also go the senior officers.
Tilak Raj, Additional Commissioner, who was present at the meeting, did not respond to calls for his version.
However, the Mayor told media, “Yes, village representatives alleged that they are being asked to grease the palms of officers. I have directed the officers concerned to find out the black sheep in the department. I have asked them to probe the matter to find out who all are involved.”
Not the first time
It is not the first time that such allegations have been made by villagers against officials and the authorities have failed to act.
Last April, residents of Khuda Ali Sher, whose “illegal” houses were demolished, had alleged that no inquiry or action was taken against officials who allegedly took money for facilitating the land registry, providing electricity connections and letting unauthorised constructions continue.
During the process of registering land and setting up houses in the village, they were allegedly made to pay money to officials in the false hope that the structures would be regularised some day. No action was initiated in this case.
