For now, no more notices over building violations

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 27

In a temporary relief to 4,298 allottees of rehabilitation colonies in Mauli Jagran and Sector 52, the MC House has decided not to serve fresh building violation notices on them.

A discussion was held on the issue during a General House meeting today. Later, MC Commissioner KK Yadav told the House that a committee would be formed to look into their demand for regularising the building violations by charging one-time fee. The committee will table its findings before the House for its approval. Till then, no fresh notice will be issued for violations.

Along with this, house owners were directed to ensure no new construction takes place on their premises till a decision on the matter was taken. Those not abiding by the direction will face legal action.

Reacting to the agenda earlier, Leader of Opposition Devinder Singh Babla demanded that the same norm should be applied to all colonies like the Sector 30 EWS Colony. However, he was told by other councillors that only these two rehabilitation colonies fall under the MC jurisdiction and they can decide only about them. Other colonies come under the jurisdiction of the UT Administration.

Area councillors Chandrawati Shukla and Anil Dubey had proposed the agenda demanding suitable changes in the policy and regularising building violations by way of a one-time payment to provide relief to poor people and stop issuing notices to them. They had sought the relief on the grounds that the CHB violators had also been given one-time settlement offer.

As per the agenda, most residents of the two colonies had violated the terms and conditions of allotment by making unauthorised constructions like cantilevers, toilets or new storeys. About 80 to 90 per cent of the licencees have sold out the transit sites on the general power of attorney.

Under the scheme, only the ground floor was to be used for different trades, but the allottees built two to four floors.

Other House decisions

• The MC decided to call expression of interest from private agencies wishing to run the gyms in community centres. On the basis of their offers, the House will decide the further course of action during the next meeting. It was also resolved that the facility will be made available to residents at affordable monthly fee.
• The corporation resolved to form a committee to decide whether to give temporary water connections to 2,128 consumers outside Lal Dora, who are currently using the supply illegally. The civic body expects to earn Rs6.87 crore by giving them water connections. However, it approved to regularise illegal water connections in all colonies and villages. Congress councillors protested over the recently hiked water rates.
• Renovation of 236 toilets and construction of 27 new toilets have been put on the back burner as the civic body has no funds for the purpose. The MC Commissioner apprised the House that Smart City Mission funds had already been exhausted while the UT Administration had turned down their request to give Rs19.18 crore dedicated to the work.
• The House also gave its consent to buy green fodder for Rs90.52 lakh and dry fodder for Rs1.02 crore from two agencies for one year. There are 1,100 head of stray cattle impounded by the MC and kept at its two pounds in the Industrial Area, Phase 1.

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