Congress demands corrupt SMC engineer's suspension

SURAT: The city Congress has demanded departmental inquiry and suspension of the Central zone's executive engineer for favouring private land owners at Palia ground for the removal of shanties for the construction of approach road of the bridge connecting Jilani Complex and Bharimata across Tapi River.
A rally was organised on Thursday from Chowk Bazaar to the SMC headquarter at Mughalsarai to protest the alleged corrupt practice of central zone executive engineer, Debashish Basak.
Last week, the municipal corporation and the ruling BJP leaders had taken a serious note of the proposed report submitted by Basak for the removal of 288 shanties on the approach road of the proposed bridge of the upcoming bridge on Tapi River. While only 138 shanties needed to be removed, the central zone prepared a proposal for removing 288.
The standing committee of SMC stalled the demolition of shanties on the private land. Sources said that some officials of the central zone wanted to favour the owners of private land, who were finding it difficult to drive away the slum dwellers, who had encroached upon the land over the years.
Salim Gadhyali, spokesperson, Surat City Congress Committee said, "This officer (Basak) has gained notoriety in the last 5-6 years for favouring private parties in the name of development. He was removed from the town planning department for his misdemeanor. He is literally harassing the poor roadside eateries in central zone and helping the rich builders to clear the shanties of the poor living on private land."
"I have been asked to do the survey of the 150 wide road for the bridge's approach road. I have done my job perfectly, and am ready to face the investigation, if ordered against me," said Debashish Basak, executive engineer, central zone.