GMADA told to enforce policy on fences, hedges in 3 months

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, January 23

The Permanent Lok Adalat here has directed the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) to implement the policy in connection with height of fences/hedges, especially at corner houses, within three months in letter and in spirit.

Notably, some senior citizens have approached the court in this connection and have filed an application under Section 22-C of the Legal Services Act - 1987 against GMADA and the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Mohali.

The application was filed against the practice of creation of blind road turns due to raising of high fences/hedges on road berms by occupants of corner houses and institutional buildings creating accident-prone areas in the town, which is violation of the GMADA policy in this regard. Such high-rise fences/hedges cause accidents by blocking the view of traffic on other connecting roads.

The applicants had stated that in the absence of any check, fences/hedges of height touching 5 to 7 ft could be seen in any part of the town.

As per the GMADA policy, which was formulated on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court around 13 years ago to regulate landscaping of road berms in front and sides of residential and institutional buildings, the height of fences/hedges has to be restricted to 2.3 feet and should be of such a kind that would not cause obstruction of the pathway and would be within the landscape area.

Besides, the occupant of such house has to leave a minimum of 5-ft land adjoining all internal metalled roads. There is also a provision for fine of Rs 25 per square foot of the violated area after a 15-day notice by authorities concerned.