Illegal constructions mushroom; poor monitoring to blame

The alleged weak monitoring by the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department has led to the mushrooming of illegal construction at various places across the state. A number of multi-storey buildings coming up along riverbanks, rivulets and highways, often in violation of the established norms, has become a cause for concern.

Though the state government had banned such constructions in 2023, following the devastating flash floods in Kullu and Shimla districts, the illegal activity continues unabated. The situation suggests that the TCP Department has struggled to effectively enforce the government’s directions.

Questions are also being raised over how the civic bodies have granted approvals for the construction of several of such structures in major towns across the state. Information gathered by The Tribune indicates that once the TCP Department clears building plans, there is little follow-up. Officials seldom inspect ongoing works, creating gaps that allow for violations to go unchecked.

A senior TCP official says that the department is facing an acute shortage of manpower. He adds that while the government continues to expand the TCP’s jurisdiction, the corresponding staff strength has not been increased. “It will be unfair to blame the TCP Department alone but filling vacant posts is essential for effective monitoring,” he asserts.

Nearly half of Himachal Pradesh falls in the seismic zone V and remains highly vulnerable to flashfloods, cloudbursts and other natural hazards. Yet both public and the authorities concerned appear to have not learnt much from this year’s floods, which claimed around 500 lives.

Though the government has banned constructions on riverbeds and along highways, such activities continue, with building plans still being approved. The TCP rules permit structures up to four storeys, subject to the floor area ratio and a maximum height of 18.80 metres in most of the towns. However, buildings exceeding these limits have increasingly appeared in recent years.

The state government had expanded municipal limits and created three new municipal corporations with the aim of curbing unplanned growth. However, the impact on the ground remains limited. Hotels, malls and commercial complexes continue to come up along riverbanks, as regulatory checks from the local authorities remain weak.