Issue of illegal cables to be taken up in next House meeting

The two inquiry reports pertaining to the illegal laying of cables will be presented before the House in the next meeting. This was decided on Wednesday as the councillors demanded that since most of them were newly elected, they should first be apprised of the background of the issue instead of taking any action.

It was in May last year that the Vigilance Department conducted raids in Sector 34 where Optical Fibre Cable was being laid without permission. After the issue was raised in the MC House Meet, it was decided to hold an inquiry into the matter and it was entrusted to Additional Commissioner-I Sunil Bhatia.

When the inquiry report was submitted in the House and discussed in the meeting held in July, the members raised objections that the inquiry was not conducted in a proper manner and there were many flaws in the report. Consequently it was decided that the Vigilance Officer of the MC Lalit Siwach would conduct the inquiry.

The report of the second inquiry was prepared in November. However, instead of being presented in the House, an action taken report was brought to the House on Wednesday. The councillors demanded to know why the action was being taken on one inquiry report while the other was rejected.

Councillors across party lines stated that since most of the councillors were newly elected, the inquiry reports be brought to the House and discussed. Only then should any action be taken.

As per the action taken report submitted, the process of preparing chargesheet against the officials indicted in the report was on.

Municipal Commissioner Vivek Pratap Singh said that since the decision to chargesheet was taken by his predecessor he would not reverse it till there was a strong reason for it. He, however agreed to the demand of the councillors that the two inquiry reports be brought to the House.

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