No stopping violations in LIT colonies

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, April 20

Even though the Vigilance Bureau has indicted the officials of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) for the gross violations of approved standard design, illegal change of land use and other irregularities committed by the owners of shop-cum-flats in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar Colony, there is no check on similar non-compoundable structural changes and illegal change of land use in the same colony, where several residential houses are being fully or partly converted into commercial establishments.

In Block E of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, a colony developed by LIT on Pakhowal Road, several owners of residential houses have constructed shops and offices in the rear portion and also constructed an illegal entry to the premises even though the Trust authorities have put iron grills on the foot paths abutting the rear portion of the houses.

Several area residents have complained that partial or full conversion of residential houses into commercial premises tend to become a source of permanent nuisance with time and law abiding residents are made to suffer sue to the adverse consequences.

Infamous for their lackadaisical attitude in acting against violations in most of its colonies, LIT officials have repeatedly been rapped on the knuckles for similar violations of building bylaws and illegal change of land use in residential houses, residential flats and shop-cum-flats in Rajguru Nagar, Maharishi Valmiki Nagar, HIG flats on Maharani Jhansi Road and even in SCFs in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar.

Citing terms and conditions of allotment of residential plots in the colonies developed by the Trust, an official of the sales branch said as per the layout plan of the colonies, residential houses have their entry points from internal roads and no entry gate could be created on the rear sides, which abut the footpaths and parking areas.

“The purpose of putting iron grills along the footpaths in most of the colonies is to prevent residents from having entry gates towards the rear side of their buildings. Moreover, where residential plots are concerned, these cannot be used for any commercial purpose, whatsoever, as change of land use (CLU) is not permissible. Any such illegal change of land use renders the allotment liable to be cancelled,” said the official.

Officials of the engineering branch of LIT said based on field survey, notices were being served on defaulting allottees on a regular basis, but they could not elaborate further as to further follow-up action taken against those violating building norms and resorting to illegal change of land use.