ADA demolishes illegal colonies in Budha Theh, Umranangal villages in Amritsar

Acting against newly emerging unauthorised colonies, the Amritsar Development Authority (ADA) carried out a demolition drive on the Amritsar-Jalandhar National Highway in Baba Bakala tehsil here on Thursday. A team of officials, led by District Town Planner (Regulatory) Gursewak Singh Aulakh, with the support of the Beas police, demolished under-construction illegal colonies at Budha Theh and Umranangal villages.

Officials said notices were earlier issued under the PAPRA Act, 1995, and development work at these sites had been stopped. Despite this, the colonisers continued to carve out plots without the mandatory approvals from PUDA and other departments, prompting demolition.

The regulatory wing highlighted that under the amended PAPRA Act, 2024, unauthorised colonisation can attract imprisonment of five to 10 years and a fine ranging from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 5 crore. The police have been asked to initiate action against the landowners and developers involved, based on revenue records.

So far, demolition has been carried out in 42 unauthorised colonies across the district and their details are available on the Amritsar Development Authority website. The department has also written to the police for the registration of FIRs against 32 colonisers and unauthorised builders.

Directions have been issued to tehsildars concerned to stop registration or sale documentation of plots in illegal colonies. Besides, PSPCL has also been asked to ensure that no electricity connections are provided.

The regulatory wing said it regularly inspects under-construction illegal colonies in the district and issues notices under the relevant Act before stopping work and informing the local police for further legal action. Appealing to the public, the ADA advised buyers to verify PUDA approval before purchasing plots advertised in any newly developed colony.

People have been urged to check details of unauthorised colonies on the ADA website to avoid financial loss and complications. The authorities further cautioned that no construction should be undertaken anywhere in the district without obtaining the required permissions from PUDA.