CHANDIGARH: Despite the tall claims by Chandigarh administration to make official work completely online, the authorities have failed to fulfill commitments with citizens. The harassment of public by delaying tactics is continuing and corruption in offices is allegedly going on unabated.
Here is the case of BJP executive member and investor Subhash Sharma who has been making rounds of the Estate Office for the last three years despite paying Rs 7.5 crores. His property conversion process is not being completed and he sat on
dharna outside the SDO (building).
Subhash Sharma is a prominent investor and builder. He bought plot number 89 in Industrial Area Phase in 2020 for around Rs 22 crore. His objective was to convert the property and rent it out. He had submitted all the necessary documents
to the building branch of the estate office in 2021.
But from February 2021 to August 2024, he had to make rounds of SDO Building Sector 17 Chandigarh. He has claimed that objections were constantly raised on his documents, such as the map was not correct, the record was in manual but not online or the concerned officer was on leave. Every time the map was changed, it was passed again and different fees had to be paid each time. Sharma says that he has deposited Rs 7 crore as conversion fees.
Subhash Sharma said that he met the then DC Estate Office several times and six months ago the DC had assured him that even if this work was processed manually, the file will be cleared in two to three months. He is now sitting on dharna in the estate office.
Subhash Sharma has raised questions on the transparency and efficiency of Chandigarh's administrative system. It remains to be seen when the administration resolves this issue and whether Subhash Sharma gets his rights or not.