UT fixes new norms

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service 

Chandigarh, October 23 

The Chandigarh Administration has withdrawn the relaxation given in the past and fixed new norms for the construction of a room in the rear courtyard of houses.        

Sources said under the new norms, the construction in the backyard will be limited to a maximum of 25 per cent of the width of the plot with the finished height to the top on the outside not exceeding 11 feet. 

The order issued by Finance Secretary Sarbjit Singh says that the “construction in the backyard (which by definition is meant to be an open space behind the house) wherever allowed, will be limited to a maximum of 25 per cent of the width of the plot with finished height to the top on the outside not exceeding 11 feet so as not to block the sunlight and flow of air in the adjoining houses. No layout  will be sanctioned, allowing construction beyond this limit in any size of the plot anywhere in the city.” 

With the decision, the owners of the houses will now only be allowed to construct a single-storey room in the rear backyard up to a height of 11 feet while earlier they were allowed to construct two-storeyed rooms up to a height of 24 feet 9 inch.

The new norms will affect the owners of marla houses as it will become impossible for them to construct a room with the existing width, which is the lowest in all types of houses. 

An officer of the Administration said the decision had been taken with the aim of ensuring proper ventilation and light in the houses and to maintain the original character of the city. 

Sections 4 of the Punjab Capital (Development and Regulation) Act, 1952 empowers the Chief Administrator to issue any directions, as may be considered appropriate in respect of any site or building for the proposes of proper planning or development of Chandigarh.