The high court on Friday took strong exception to the civic body’s failure to furnish area-wise details regarding illegal construction and directed Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) to file a fresh affidavit by Monday.

A division bench comprising Justice Navin Sinha and Justice Shivaji Pandey, hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) to stop illegal mushrooming of high-rises, directed the PMC to file a fresh affidavit.

Stating that illegal construction cannot be possible without the PMC’s connivance, the court observed that the civic body allowed the construction of illegal high-rises beyond permissible height on less than 20ft road. After going through PMC’s affidavit, the bench stated: “You (PMC) have not disclosed anything on affidavit with regard to the illegal constructions… This is a case of gross contempt.”

Waterlogging order

A high court division bench on Friday directed the urban development department principal secretary to submit an action plan with a time-schedule for permanent redressal of waterlogging problem on both sides of Bailey Road from Rupaspur to Saguna Mod.

The bench also directed PMC and other officials concerned to take action for construction of a drainage system to get rid of waterlogging in Gardanibagh. The bench directed the civic body to carry out cleanliness and sanitation work to clear choked drains.