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UP govt crackdown on land sharks, conniving officials

The Uttar Pradesh government plans to wage a war on corruption in the development authorities and housing boards in a bid to improve its income. In Lucknow today, the state's Housing and Urban Development Minister Lalji Tandon said that in a drive against corruption 35 employees of the land development authorities and housing boards have been suspended, two jailed and first information reports lodged against 100 others.

Tandon said inquiries have been instituted against 150 employees. The jailed employees were from the Lucknow Development Authority and they were involved in the sale of land. The minister said property worth Rs 20,000 million was in illegal occupation all over the state. Property worth Rs 1,000 million was reclaimed through incentives to employees to bring such cases to light, he added.

Tandon said a drive would soon be launched against the land mafias, property dealers and corrupt employees of the housing boards and land development authorities. ''We also want to check corrupt officers occupying high posts and bring them to book,'' Tandon said. The minister warned the house tax and water tax payers that they would invite action if they don't pay taxes under the voluntary disclosure scheme.

He said that according to available information, only one-third of the houses in the state were assessed. Tandon said that if all the tax payers of the urban local bodies pay their taxes, the income of these local bodies would go up four times.

He said he has implemented the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations in regard to the employees of the urban local bodies even though the Pay Commission had not included them in its recommendations.

Tandon said daily wagers would also be sacked if found guilty of corrupt practices. The minister said that through departmental efforts 1,500 to 2,000 property disputes have been settled. Referring to the continuing land staff strike, Tandon said if the employees did not resume work immediately, they would not be paid for the strike period.

UNI

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