Councilors have no role in illegal or legal constructions, says Kolkata Mayor
India Today
He stated that just like it is the job of the Income Tax department to find out who is skipping taxes, planning committees or building departments are to approve sanctions, not local councilors.
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said that councilors do not understand which construction is legal or which one is illegal, on Saturday. He went to state this during the weekly 'Talk to Mayor' program where residents directly call the Mayor to share their civic issues.
"It is the work of the building department to approve construction. Councilors do not approve construction. So, either it is an error or corrupt practice of the building department, which is a part of the administration. Now, if there is a police complaint against it and no action has been taken, then we can say the same about it" said Hakim.
Hakim stated that any kind of illegal construction is generally blamed on a local councilor. However, as per the Mayor, councilors have no role in knowing which construction is illegal unless the administration informs them.
"It is wrong to blame the councilor for illegal construction. He or she would stop it when he comes to know about it, but the approval to construct comes from the planning or building department" said the Mayor.
He went on to state that just like an MP or MLA can never figure out whether an individual is skipping tax or not, a counselor cannot make out whether construction is legal or not.
He stated that just like it is the job of the Income Tax department to find out who is skipping taxes, planning committees or building departments are to approve sanctions, not local councilors.
