Rajkot: The city’s civic body will constitute an inquiry committee to investigate allegations of inflated expenditure on food, drinking water and other arrangements made during the Jangleshwar demolition drive carried out in Feb.Rajkot municipal commissioner Tushar Sumera told mediapersons on Monday that the mayor directed them to constitute the committee after concerns were raised over the expenses incurred. The expenses under scrutiny include a food bill of approximately Rs 27 lakh, water supply and mandap expenses of about Rs 9 lakh, as well as videography bills.The civic chief assured that the inquiry would be conducted impartially. Sumera said, “Payment will be stopped if the committee finds any bill to be inflated or unjustified. If payments have already been released, the amount will be recovered from the concerned agency.”He also clarified that the officer who was in charge of the demolition operation would not be a member of the inquiry committee to ensure a fair investigation.The commissioner said the anti-encroachment drive had freed govt land with an estimated current market value of around Rs 350 crore. A total of 87,000 sq m land was vacated and 1,400 illegal dwellings removed in what he claimed was one of the largest demolition exercises undertaken in the country.The demolition drive was carried out on Feb 23 and 24. However, preparations for the operation began on Feb 21, while the removal of debris continued until Feb 27.
