By Arfat Khan
Jammu: The authorities in Jammu Municipal Corporation has whole heartedly extended favouritism to contractor for display of unauthorised hoardings.
The file pertaining to contract for hoardings is full of irregularities, alleged highly placed sources. It’s a scandal which needs to be unearthed, added sources.
Merely to keep contractor in good humour, the JMC authorities alter sites number of times in contradiction to the sites mentioned at the time of advertisement.
The contractor of firm namely M/s Brite Neon used to display unauthorised hoardings at many places, disclosed insiders in JMC.
Even, a report was submitted to authorities regarding these violations which still bitting dust in the office of JMC Commissioner, revealed sources.
Interestingly, whenever these violations of firm owner namely Shailender Luthra were brought in the notice of concerned JMC officers, the later shield the illegalties of contractor by means of ammended annexures, said one middle rung officer of JMC.
Instead of initiating action as per norms, these violations were condoned for ulterior motives by incorporating ammendment in annexure ‘A’ of the advertisement of contract dated 16/04/2016, revealed sources.
Anyone with naked eye can see the might of habitual violator who after being allegedly patronized by the JMC bosses are brazenly displaying unauthorised hoardings at number of prominent and vantage locations in the city.
The building adjoining the District Industries Center at exhibition ground contains nearly 11 hoardings. While, the ground opposite Hotel Fortune Rivera have 3 big illegal hoardings.
Similarly, the rotary in Jewel Chowk have illegal hoarding whereas, the Gurudwara in Gandhinagar have displayed nearly 3 large hoardings.
The contractor of Brite Neon has turned JMC limit as its fiefdom for display of unauthorised hoardings and the concerned officers in JMC maintained ignorance on it for reasons best known to them.
There are nearly 30 such illegal hoardings on display in the JMC limit which generate around 10 to 15 lakh on monthly basis.
Pertinently, the charge of hoarding is lying with Sunaina Mehta, Secretary JMC who is also holding additional charge of JMC gardens, beautification of city walls, mobile towers permission and Chief Enforcement Officer Zone 2.
There is deep rooted nexus prevailing between JMC authorities, the contractor and the premises owners behind this flourishing businesses of illegal hoardings, alleged sources.
Not only this even there is huge under hand deals in booking of advertisements for display on ten hoardings being currently managed by the JMC authorities itself in new wards, alleged one revenue inspector of JMC preferring anonymity.
JKGN made several attempts to contact JMC Commissioner, Pankaj Magotra to ascertain his views on the issue but he didn’t responded.
(To be continued)