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| Ex-JMC Commissioner Sawhney moves out, enforcement staff paying for his misdeeds | | Will Tara again rehabilitate favourite? | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Apr 30: If not re-engaged after the lifting of Model Code of Conduct (MCC), Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand's favourite S.C.Sawhney has seemingly bowed out of Government service but not before turning most of residential areas into commercial centres across Jammu city.
To add to this qualification, Sawhney headed Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), took all the decisions with regard to building permissions and then, when it came to penalisation, he got a job even after retirement while those who acted on his verbal as well as written orders have been hanged. Clerical staff, Khilafwarzi officers and other low ranking officers were penalised.
They are facing various probes but the one who headed the corporation has retired without even being asked simple questions about how commercial operations were allowed in residential areas. He was not asked about two thousand instances of conversion of residential houses into commercial establishments within the limits of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC).
Such was the mess in JMC during Sawhney's time that Khilafwarzi officers alongwith other lower rung officers would spend most of the time in arranging chairs and making other necessary arrangements for political rallies and other social functions of Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, said a source. They added that while Sawhney took all the decisions, he has been spared while those who bowed to his orders have been shown the door and those left out, are being harassed.
Sawhney due to his proximity with Tara Chand managed re-engagement as Director of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SAA) after having served as controversial Director Technical Education. He did not spend even a single day at home. According to sources, Deputy Chief Minister pleaded with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his re-engagement despite knowing well that his image as Municipal commissioner had taken a serious beating.
Sources asserted that it was during Sawhney's time that many residential localities were completely converted into commercial centres in gross violation of Jammu and Kashmir Control of Building Operation Act 1988 of JMC. An internal probe had confirmed that around 2000 buildings had violated the BO act-1988. Sources assert that Jammu master plan has clearly spelt out that no residential building could be converted into commercial place without intervention of State Cabinet.
Sawhney has also been discredited with allowing encroachment of nullahs and natural outlets of water to help the land mafia on the behest of his political masters. "While he vested all powers to himself, the enforcement staff was deputed to organize political rallies of Tara Chand" divulged the officer further.
Sources further said that it was Sawhney and the political patronage he enjoyed because of which efforts of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) to rein in illegal commercialisation of residential areas in Jammu city failed. "Despite issuing notices, Sawhney ensured that most of the people who were illegally using their residential properties for commercial purpose are not touched," he said.
Though he has now bowed out but once the Model Code of Conduct is over, it is to be seen whether Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand would manage another posting for him or not. |
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