MANGALDAI, Sept 26 - Deputy Commissioner, Darrang Ashok Kr Barman has indicated of taking a strong stand against high-rise structures erected in areas under elected local bodies of the district which have been causing threats to the lives and properties of the nearby tax-paying citizens.
Being dissatisfied over the alleged dishonest practices by a section of elected representatives and officials of the Mangaldai Municipal Board, the District Magistrate has reiterated his stand in this regard by interference over the matter of granting building permission by the Municipal authority. In one such incident. the Deputy Commissioner vide his office memo no. DPL 28 / 2015/287 dated 18th September, 2017 has directed the Mangaldai Municipal authority to urgently submit before him all the relevant documents in connection with permission accorded to Dr Malabika Gogoi Deka, w/o Dr Arabinda Deka and her son Sudipta Deka for construction of a G+4, commercial-cum-residential complex at ward no-1 of the town.
Earlier, following complaints regarding gross violation of the Assam Notified Urban Areas (other than Guwahati) Building Rules 2014 in the construction of the said building, the Deputy Commissioner had asked for a report from the Municipal authority. The report from the Chairman, Municipal Board vide its memo no. MMB/2017/5339 Dtd. 12th April, 2017 clearly mentioned about the gross violation of the building rules by the owner of the building and even unauthorised construction of an additional floor at the building. Acting on this report, the Deputy Commissioner on May 29 last by his office order no. DPL-28/2015/256 directed the Municipal authority to take necessary steps as per provisions of the said Building Rules-2014. However, the elected local body mysteriously remained silent over the Deputy Commissioner�s direction and even failed to serve a notice to the owner of the building to stop further construction, and on the contrary passed a resolution in a Board meeting in July to regularise the illegal construction with the misinterpretation of the clause VI(B) of VII under Section 180 of the Building Rules.
The alleged malafide intention of the elected body to safeguard illegal construction later came to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner and he took a serious note on it and directed the Municipal authority to produce all the relevant papers in connection with the permission of building. Eventually, a private commercial medical institution in the name and style of �Radhika X-ray and imaging centre� has started functioning much to the inconvenience of the local residents.
Meanwhile, talking to the media the Deputy Commissioner said that he has also verbally warned the owner of the building Dr Malabika Gogoi Deka who is also an employee of the district Health Department of lawful action if they further continue any activity in the unauthorised and vulnerable building without rectification in conformity of the rules and the owner is also stated to have responded to it. This has clearly indicated that the Deputy Commissioner will deal with all the issues in connection with illegal building very seriously and stop further corrupt practices in the district in this regard.
