The Chairman of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council Salil Vishnoi asked the Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) to inform the committee in writing within a month about the action taken against the officers in relation to some pending cases. He was presiding over a review meeting of the committee formed to curb the irregularities prevailing in the development authorities, Awas Vikas Parishad, zila panchayats and nagar nigams (municipal corporations) at Circuit House here on Monday.
Vishnoi also instructed the VDA to take action against the concerned employees for illegal construction within a month and to inform the committee. In the meeting, information regarding matters related to the Housing and Urban Planning Department of VDA was presented before the committee by the VDA Secretary Sunil Verma. The committee directed the VDA to hold talks with public representatives on the 2031 Master Plan. Committee member Pawan Chauhan suggested building complexes on the vacant land of old cinema halls. The committee asked for maintenance of parks and making them free from encroachment. In reply, the VDA Secretary said that the authority has improved many parks apart from making arrangements for open gyms.
The committee instructed the VDA Secretary to give a beautiful look to Ravidas Park. It also raised the matter relating to an illegal colony on 6.05 acres near Chandua Satti and in reply, the VDA informed that action is being taken in this direction and it will be completely removed soon. Expressing displeasure over no action being taken till now in the proceedings related to illegal occupation and construction in Ramnagar’s Bhatti since 2020 despite an assurance, the Committee directed the VDA to take action against the concerned employees and also to inform the committee. In the case of demolition proceedings in Habibpura of Chetganj, the VDA said that it would be removed soon.
The committee expressed displeasure over construction being done on 1.33 acres in Banaras Club without getting the map approved. It also expressed anguish over no action being taken yet despite depositing Rs 1.5 crore as mitigation amount and directed the concerned officers for immediate disposal.
The committee said that as Varanasi is the parliamentary constituency of the Prime Minister, a large area of land should be identified to establish a new city.
In reply, the VDA Secretary said that the place is being identified along the Ring Roads. The committee also took cognizance of the illegal construction being demolished and wanted information as to what action was taken against the VDA personnel under whose protection such illegal constructions were done. In reply, the VDA Secretary said that six junior engineers (JEs) have been suspended and action and transfer proceedings have been taken against many employees.
On being informed about making two screen cinema halls and shopping complexes in place of closed single screen old cinema halls, the committee directed that if shopping complexes are built in place of such closed cinema halls, then the system of the city will improve.
Raising the issue of Shivaji Nagar Colony, MLA Saurabh Srivastava said that many hotels and illegal constructions were built overnight there but no action was taken by the VDA. He also raised the issue of keeping a close watch on the attempts of illegal encroachment on the 40 year old park in Saket Nagar of Naria and emphasised on its conservation.
When the Municipal Commissioner (MC) Shipu Giri raised the issue of irregularities in the sewerage line on Sigra- Mahmoorganj Road, the committee asked the District Magistrate (DM) and MC to inspect the spot and take action against whoever has committed the irregularities and get the sewer line rectified. Commenting on the slow progress of VDA, the committee said that VDA has not developed any colony in the last 20 years while the country is looking towards Varanasi. When Vishnoi asked for information about the drains falling into the river Ganga, the DM S Rajalingam gave the details about the same and the meeting also talked about the illegal encroachment of the Assi river. The Chairman ordered a notice in the absence of the regional pollution officer from the meeting.
The meeting was also attended by committee members Manvendra Singh, Hansraj Vishwakarma, Ashok Dhawan, Pawan Singh Chauhan, Rakesh, Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) S Chinappa, Chief Development Officer (CDO) Himanshu Nagpal and senior officers from various departments.
