Patna,(BiharTimes):: The Commissioner of Patna Municipal Corporation, Kuldip Narayan, warned the builders, who abstained from the vigilance case hearing against them on Wednesday.

He said strict legal action would be taken if they did not appear on the next date of hearing, which is December 7.

As reported there are cases against 141 buildings across the Bankipore Circle New Capital Circle,and Kankerbagh Circle for violating building bylaws.

But on Wednesday, the second day of hearing more than 50 per cent of the builders facing vigilance cases filed with PMC Commissioner for violating building bylaws, did not turn up for hearing at PMC office. On the first day of hearing on November 16 around 40 per cent of the builders were absent.

The Wednesday hearing was in fact scheduled for November 15 but it had to be re-scheduled because of the announcement of Muharram holiday.

On Wednesday 41 builders out of 81 were absent without prior notice. Altogether 40 cases were heard.

The PMC Commissioner said he had sent an official letter to the General Manager, Patna Electric Supply Undertaking (PESU), requesting him to disconnect the electricity supply, permanent or temporary, to the buildings facing PMC vigilance cases. Many builders are avoiding the hearing. If they continue abstaining or fail to reply to the show cause on the next date, the PMC would publish their names in the newspapers and also paste notices on their under-construction buildings, he added.

The irony, however, is that notwithstanding strict warning by the PMC Commissioner and repeated Patna high court interventions the builders are busy building apartments at breakneck speed. This speaks of the political clout they enjoyed.

In fact there is a move to get the PMC Commissioner transferred, but the high court had stopped it. The matter in this regard is now in the Supreme Court.