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‘Illegal’ portions in Cong. building under probe: CM

Shimla: “Illegal” constructions in the new building of Himachal Pradesh Congress headquarters here are being probed and the Government would take necessary action after getting the inquiry report, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal told the State Assembly on Monday.

Two floors of the new State Congress headquarters building on Cart Road in the heart of the town have been constructed illegally and the parking space has been covered in violation of the permission, Mr. Dhumal alleged in reply to a question of BJP’s Rikhi Ram Kaundal.

Construction on as much as 1123.81 sq metres of the building is illegal, he alleged, adding that against a permission for construction of three floors a total of five floors were built in the building during previous regime of that party.

“A No Objection Certificate (NOC) of the building was also not taken from National Highways Authority,” he said.

Mr. Dhumal said Commissioner of Shimla Municipal Corporation was probing “illegal” constructions and the government would take necessary action after getting the report. The probe started in December last year, when the Congress was still in power in the State.

Senior Congress leader and previous Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said since the building was in the sinking zone, two extra floors were constructed (which otherwise would be sealed) to provide strength to the building.

Temporary roof in the parking area was for beautification of the building, he said.

Leader of Opposition Vidya Stokes said the land was provided for the Congress building in 2002 when Mr. Dhumal was the then Chief Minister.

She said the two floors which have been built “in addition to the permission are sealed and would not be used” and asked the government to provide completion certificate to the building.

Mr. Dhumal claimed despite advice of many Congressmen that the place was not suitable for the building as it fell in sinking zone, construction work proceeded.

He said the site was actually meant for construction of a vegetable market to lessen the load of the existing market in lower bazaar area.

The request of the Hamirpur Bazaar Samiti for allotment of the land at the same place was previously rejected by the government on the same plea, he added.

The State Congress headquarters is still running from the residence of its president Viplov Thakur. -- PTI

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