Patna, Feb. 2: Members of the committee, formed by the civic body to investigate the construction of eight buildings on the dry riverbed of Ganga between Dujra and Kurji, today conducted a spot inspection.

Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pal told The Telegraph that though the inspection report is to yet be submitted, prima facie, it seems that the buildings have flouted construction norms.

“Some of these buildings have no proper drainage or sewage plan and fire-fighting arrangements. Also, the officials who were at the inspection site found that the soil was not fit for the construction of highrises,” said Pal.

He added that according to a Patna Regional Development Authority order of 1996, there is a ban on the construction of highrises beyond the Ganga protection bund. “Thus, these projects have violated not only statutory regulations but an executive order. We will prepare a detailed report on the matter very soon,” the commissioner said.

The PMC, in a recent order, has stopped all construction work at the sites. It also issued notices to architects, registered with the civic body, to explain how they had approved the proposed maps of these buildings. Inquiry has also been initiated against Eagle Apartments near Rajapur, which has been inhabited for the past 20 years.

The PMC has formed a 15-member committee, headed by chief engineer Ram Swa-rath Singh, to inquire whether the projects have followed the prescribed building norms. He said: “We will submit our report to the PMC chief.”

The urban development committee of the Legislative Council also convened a meeting on this issue today.

MLC Sanjay Singh, who heads the urban development committee, said: “We have instructed senior PMC officers to carry out a thorough enquiry. Such projects should be scrapped if they violate the norms.”