UT to keep tabs on illegal construction in 13 new MC villages

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 21

No illegal construction will be allowed in the 13 villages recently merged with the local Municipal Corporation. The UT Administration has extended the Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulation) Act to the areas under “abadi deh” in the villages.

Besides, the Administration has also clarified that the area outside the “abadi deh” shall continue to be controlled by the Punjab New Capital (Periphery) Control Act-1952 as applicable to the UT.

Sources said Ajoy Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Estate, UT, issued a notification in this regard today.

The Administration had recently merged 13 villages, namely Kishangarh, Mauli Jagran, Daria, Raipur Kalan, Makhan Majra, Behlana, Raipur Khurd, Dhanas, Sarangpur, Khuda Ali Sher, Khuda Jassu, Khuda Lahora and Kaimbwala, with the Municipal Corporation.

The notification had been issued in exercise of powers conferred by Sub-Section (2) of Section 1 of the Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulation) Act.

With the notification, the civic body got the powers to stop and penalise those raising illegal structures in these villages.

The total area of the revenue estate of the villages, including the area under “abadi deh”, has been included in the MC. The Punjab New Capital (Periphery) Control Act-1952 was implemented in the villages before these were brought under the jurisdiction of the MC. However, there was uncertainty over the status of the periphery law ever since the decision was taken to include these villages in the MC.

An MC official said illegal construction had started in a major way in these villages after the merger but with the notification, the MC would act sternly against violators. Today’s notification has made it clear that no illegal construction or commercial activity would be allowed in these villages.