Amid heavy police force, ADA demolishes illegal colony in Amritsar

Amid the presence of a heavy police force, the Amritsar Development Authority (ADA) along with several other government departments demolished an illegal colony, named King Avenue, on the Amritsar-Tarn Taran link road near Chattiwind village here on Friday.

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While giving information in this regard, District Town Planner (Regulatory) Gursewak Singh Aulakh said according to the instructions of the government, the unauthorised colony at Chatiwind village was issued a notice under the PAPRA Act, 1995, to stop the work because the owner of the unauthorised colony was flouting the government rules.

He clarified that according to the 2024 amendment to the PAPRA Act, 1995, imprisonment of five to 10 years and a fine of Rs 25 lakh to Rs 5 crore can be imposed against a person who develop an unauthorised colony. The department has so far written to the police to register an FIR against a total of 15 colonisers for carving out an equal number of unauthorized colonies, besides unauthorized constructions.

Besides, the regulatory wing of PUDA periodically checks unauthorized colonies and constructions being developed in the district by issuing notices and stopping the work. Even the police station is asked to take further action.

The District Town Planner makes an appeal to the public not to buy plots in those colonies which have not been approved by PUDA. Before buying a plot after coming across an advertisement regarding the sale of plots, they must check if it has been approved by PUDA so that their hard-earned money does not get wasted. They also ask people that constructions should be done on any place in the district only after getting the necessary approval from PUDA.