News: Gurugram: 50 illegal colonies demolished in DTCP crackdown-20-10-2023
: In three months, the enforcement wing of town and country planning department (DTCP) demolished around 50 illegal colonies spread over 550 acres of prime land in and around the city. These colonies were set up in urban areas of Gurgaon, Sohna, Pataudi and Farrukhnagar.
District town planner Binesh Kumar identified 14 illegal colonies in Sohna and Bhondsi area which were built violating the Haryana Urban Development Act, 1975. These colonies were being developed on 41 acres of agricultural land.
“Show-cause notices and restoration orders were issued to the land owners of these colonies but construction work continued. After 13 demolition drives, area of around 150 acres, was cleared from encroachment. Some colonies were expanding despite action being taken against them in the past. The department had to register three FIRs against the offenders,” DTP Kumar said.
Similarly, DTP Sumit Malik identified 29 colonies carved out on around 105 acres of prime land in Farrukhnagar-Pataudi area. In this too, showcause notices and restoration orders were given to the offenders. Total of 25 demolition drives were carried out and around 400 acres of area was cleared. In these, 15 FIRs have also been lodged against land owners of different colonies. Apart from this, a demolition drive was conducted against structures in seven colonies.
Senior town planner Renuka Singh has sent an action taken report to Director General TL Satyaprakash. The department had recently appointed additional district town planners - Binesh Kumar and Sumit Malik - to intensify action against illegal colonies.
“The main objective is to improve the working style of town planning in Gurgaon and to tighten the noose on the ever-growing network of illegal colonies in the city. Due to this, Mewat's DTPE Binesh Kumar was entrusted with the responsibility of taking action against illegal construction and colonies in Sohna-Bhondsi area. Similarly, DTPE Sumit Malik was given the responsibility of Manesar, Pataudi, Farrukhnagar area” said Singh.
She said as soon as any illegal colony is identified through survey, orders are issued to demolish the colony at the initial stage itself so that the development of new colonies can be stopped.
The state government has carved out new sectors in Sohna, Bhondsi, Farrukhnagar and adjoining areas under the Gurgaon Master Plan 2031. Illegal colonies in these areas are disrupting the development of the new sectors, DTCP officials said.
According to officials, the offenders are using the gaps and carving out illegal colonies on prime agricultural land in violation of Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act, 1975. Section 7A of the Act states that the registration of sale deed of a plot having a size less than 1 acre is not allowed without a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the DTCP.
Officials said the violation of Act is a punishable offence with imprisonment up to 3 years, therefore, the department writes to police to stop the development of unauthorised colonies being done by the offenders.
