No check on illegal construction at new MC villages

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 20

While the UT Administration handed over 13 villages to the Municipal Corporation (MC) recently,

The Municipal Corporation (MC) has failed to stop illegal construction on agricultural land outside lal dora at 13 villages merged with it by the UT Administration recently. Illegal structures are coming up without any check at almost all of these villages. Though the Chandigarh Administration had announced that the Periphery Control Act will continue to remain in force on land outside lal dora in the villages, the ground reality is different.

The Act prohibits any construction or commercial activity on farm land. However, illegal construction on a large scale is being carried out in these villages and there is no check.

One of the violations was noticed at Shastri Nagar in Mani Majra. The area falls in the periphery of Kishangarh village, which was merged with the MC recently.

Though the Land Acquisition Office (LAO) of the UT Administration demolished illegal structures in Shastri Nagar last year, it has failed to deter residents from carrying out unauthorised construction. Construction activity on small plots measuring 2 to 3 kanals are going on in full swing.

The Administration has banned the sale of agricultural land in the form of small plots to prevent construction of houses. However, plots are being sold through General Power of Attorney (GPA).

Thirteen villages, which have been merged with the MC recently, are Behlana, Raipur Khurd, Raipur Kalan, Makhan Majra, Daria, Mauli Jagran, Kishangarh, Kaimbwala, Khuda Ali Sher, Khuda Jassu, Khuda Lahora, Sarangpur and Dhanas. Earlier, nine villages were brought under the jurisdiction of the civic body.

Sources said with the transfer of villages, some property dealers were selling small plots giving a false impression to the gullible buyers that the construction would be regularised soon.

When contacted, MC Commissioner KK Yadav, who has been appointed the Administrator of the villages till elections were held there, said though implementation of the Periphery Control Act was the responsibility of the LAO and the SDMs concerned, he would get the violation checked soon. He said action would be taken against the violators as per law.