language and understanding of local Government department’s working won’t be a barrier in the grant of change of land use (ClU) in Punjab. For, the Punjab Government has found a Minister, who not only understands Punjabi well, and comprehends the intricacies of the department, but also promises to hold special camps across the State to facilitate the issuance of ClU certificates.
This is not all! The “new” local Bodies Minister has also issued a word of caution to the officials concerned in case their acts led to delay in issuance of the same.
Replacing his senior party colleague Chunni lal Bhagat after recent Cabinet reshuffle, BJP leader and the new local Bodies’ Minister Anil Joshi on Tuesday assured that all the pending cases of ClU and building plans would be cleared on priority. For the same, he would organise special camps in big cities wherein approvals would be given for ClU and building plans.
To begin with, the first such camp would be held in Amritsar on October 26, followed by ludhiana on November 7, and then Jalandhar, Patiala and Bathinda — the date sfor which are not yet finalised.
Joshi’s predecessor Bhagat faced piles of ClU cases seeking his approval because of his inability to understand the department’s working and his lack of proficiency in Punjabi.
Joshi said that already, the concerned officers have been asked to complete all the files related to ClU and building plans as per the list of required documents, and the same would be put for approval during these camps. “Any officer, who receives file without complete documents, would be taken to task. Such acts led to inordinate delay and even harassment to the applicants. Moreover, the officers have been directed to send the file for correction after finding all objections all together as the same will save time,” said Joshi.
He said that this move would prove a boon for thousands of applicants, whose cases were lying pending in different districts. He added that the instructions have been issued to authorities concerned to provide ClU and approval for building plans within a stipulated time limit of 15 days.