Illegal colonies demolished at Pakharpura, Kathunangal

In compliance of the guidelines issued by the Punjab Government, officials of the Amritsar Development Authority (ADA) in the presence of police and other officials, demolished unauthorised colonies being raised at Pakharpura and Kathunangal village near the Amritsar-Pathankot highway on Friday.

The action was taken as per the orders issued by ADA Chief Administrator Ankurjit Singh and Additional Chief Administrator Major Amit Sareen. The operation was led by District Town Planner (Regulatory) Gursewak Singh Aulakh, Duty Magistrate Jagbir Singh and the sub-divisional engineer concerned.

The District Town Planner said that in order to control the future course of development, the new unauthorised colonies being developed at Pakharpura village and Kathunangal village were issued notices under the PAPRA Act, 1995 to stop work and demolition action was taken. He said that the owners of these unauthorised colonies flouted government rules and despite the issuance of the notice, instead of giving an explanation regarding the said unauthorised colonies, development work continued on the spot, under which action was taken under orders of the higher authorities.

Demolition proceedings were initiated against the unauthorised colonies through a communiqué dated January 16 but the colony owners resumed work, due to which the new constructions were demolished again.

According to the amendment in 2024 to the PAPRA Act, 1995, imprisonment of 5-10 years and a fine ranging between Rs 25 lakh to Rs 5 crore can be imposed on a coloniser who carves out an unauthorised colony. The department has so far written to the police department to register an FIR against the colonisers and unauthorised builders for 15 illegal colonies.