Complaints against 4 more illegal buildings in Zone B

Tribune News Service

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Ludhiana, August 9

A complaint against four non-compoundable illegal under-construction buildings has been filed with the Senior Town Planner (STP) and the Municipal Town Planner (MTP).

RTI activist Rohit Sabharwal alleged that carrying on the construction work in the utter violation of building bylaws was not possible without connivance of officials in the Zone-B area.

Further, the complainant alleged that these illegal constructions were very well in the knowledge of the ATP and Building Inspector of Zone – B concerned but these officials had failed to stop the constructions with non-compoundable violation.

In his complaint to senior officers in the building branch department, copies of which have been sent to the higher-ups in Chandigarh, Sabharwal said notices under Section-269 of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, have already been issued to these under-construction buildings and Section-269 of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, provides a set procedure that has to be followed if a building is found in violation of building bylaws, 2010.

As per the procedure provided under Section-269 of the Punjab Municipal Act, 1976, it was the foremost duty of the officers concerned to demolish the constructions having non-compoundable violations after issuing notice against it. But working in contrary, they failed to stop the constructions having non-compoundable violation and is providing sufficient time to violators to complete the buildings, alleged the complainant.

Meanwhile, the High Court has also passed directions that once the unauthorised construction is detected, it may not be allowed to make further construction.

To prevent the violators from making further constructions, the photograph of the unauthorised construction was to be taken as an obligation and sent to the violators along with the notices so that they don’t make an excuse of being ignorant of any such orders. But the constructions are still going on unabatedly.

The allegation

The complainant, an RTI activist, said carrying on the construction work in utter violation of building bylaws is not possible without the connivance of officials in the Zone-B area. He further alleged that these illegal constructions were very well in the knowledge of the ATP and Building Inspector of Zone - B concerned, but these officials had failed to stop the constructions with non-compoundable violation.

What Sub-Clause -1 of Section 269 says...

“Where the erection of any building or execution of any work has been commenced, or is being carried on or has been completed without or contrary to the sanction referred to in Section 262 or in the contravention of any condition subject to which such sanction has been accorded or in contravention of any of the provisions of this act or bylaws made under, the commissioner may, in addition to any other action that may be taken under this Act, make an order directing that such erection or work shall be demolished by the person at whose instance the erection or work has been commenced or is being carried on or has been completed within such period (not being less than three days from the date, on which a copy of the order of demolition with a brief statement of the reasons therefore has been delivered to that person as may be specified in the order of demolition...”