SIC seeks details of illegal buildings in Aravalli area

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 28

State Information Commissioner (SIC) Arun Sangwan has asked the Principal Secretary, Town and Country Planning Department (TCPD), and the Principal Secretary, Forest and Wildlife Department, to conduct a survey of the Aravalli area, especially 60 “illegal” farmhouses, and furnish the details of all buildings that have come up in violation of rules.

He observed that there is a “deliberate” attempt to conceal the names of the owners of these “illegal” farmhouses in Gurugram and Faridabad by TCPD officials.

The State Information Commission (SIC) had in its order dated January 15 stated that the survey, which should be completed within one month, would enable the public to access the facts about encroachers of the Aravalli land under Sections 4 and 5 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900. These constructions have come up without obtaining change of land use (CLU) from the TCPD.

Senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka has approached the SIC after he was denied information on the owners of these “illegal” farmhouses.

Sangwan has asked MD, Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam, to furnish the details of power connections provided in the area.

“The department’s response that there is no record of such individuals is not satisfactory as it is the duty of the DTP (Enforcement) to monitor any attempts at illegal constructions in its designated area,” he added.

“Ignoring this violation/ transgression seems to be by design rather than neglect, considering that electricity connections have already been provided to the owners of these illegal farmhouses,” said Sangwan.

Earlier, Khemka had written to Haryana Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya on November 9 last year against giving assent to the Punjab Land Revenue (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2020, passed by the Vidhan Sabha on November 3, as it would enable forced partition of joint holdings without an application by a co-sharer, where they are not related by blood. He claimed that the new Bill has been introduced to benefit illegal farmhouses. After his letter, the Governor sought comments from the state Revenue Department.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.