GUJRANWALA, July 17: The Punjab government has sought a report from the buildings department regarding the suspension of construction work on 32 new death cells and four barracks of the central jail for the last six months.

The contractors had refused to continue the construction till revision in their work permit.

Reports said the government had allocated Rs13 million for the purpose. The buildings department contractors started the construction in 2003 following the approval of tenders. They were directed by the department to complete the work by December last year. But they left the construction incomplete and demanded that their work permit should be revised as the building material prices had been raised.

The department sent its report to the Punjab government on Saturday stating that the contractors had 'disappeared'.

Meanwhile, executive engineer Irfan Qazi assured the government that the pending work would be completed within the next four months. However, he did not explain whether it would be completed by the same contractors or some other builders.

ILLEGAL 'ADDAS': As many as 10 illegal bus stands (addas) in the city and around 25 in other areas of the district are being allegedly run by influentials, including some elected representatives.

This was confirmed by the district administration in its report sent to the Punjab Assembly on Saturday.

MPA Lala Shakeelur Rehman had tabled a motion a few days back regarding the illegal 'addas' and demanded their demolition.

The report said many a time the stands were razed, but the influentials reportedly established the 'addas' again.

The regional transport authority secretary declared many 'addas' illegal at Naushera Virkan, Kamoki, Wazirabad tehsils and other cities of the district, it said.

ENCROACHMENTS: The city tehsil council anti-encroachment squad bulldozed the building of a factory and six shops on the Jinnah Road and released state land from grabbers on Saturday.

On complaints, City Nazim Babu Javed Ahmed ordered the squad to get the state land released from grabbers near Vina village on the Sialkot Road.

The grabber had constructed 20 shops and were receiving the rent.