Patna, Nov. 16: The civic body has asked Patna Electric Supply Undertaking (Pesu) to snap temporary electric connections of buildings, the builders of which have been asked to stop construction.

Water and sewer connections would also be snapped to any such building, unless the developer procures the occupancy certificate. Till date, both these connections used to be taken prior to completion of construction or issue of occupancy certificate.

Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) had started the mass hearing in vigilance cases against buildings allegedly getting constructed in violation of the related norms.

Of the 60 cases against under-construction buildings in New Capital circle scheduled to be heard today in the court of PMC commissioner Kuldip Narayan, 23 defendants did not turn up.

“Acting on the directives of Patna High Court, our engineers inspected under-construction buildings across the city. Based on their reports, we initiated vigilance cases on those buildings suspected of getting constructed in violation of building byelaws. The defendants were given notices through newspapers and their case reports were also uploaded on our website, www.patnanagarnigam.in.

Total 140 cases are being taken up in the first phase. Few people, whose cases were heard today, sought extension and their cases have been put up for hearing on November 29,” said Narayan. He said another hearing for absentee cases would be held on November 23.

PMC was represented by its panel advocate and legal advisor H.S. Hinkar and vigilance officer H.S. Kushwaha.