Shimla MC seeks one-time settlement of illegal buildings
With the status of more than 10,000 unauthorised buildings raised in violation of the construction norms in the state capital remaining illegal, the Shimla Municipal Corporation has sought one-time settlement to decide their fate once and for all.
The Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) yesterday moved a resolution, urging the government to decide the status of these illegal structures in Shimla, though the total number of such structures all over the state is close to 25,000. The highest number of these unauthorised buildings is concentrated in Shimla MC, especially in the merged areas, which were merged into the municipal corporation from the suburbs which were earlier outside the planning limits.
“The number of such structures under Shimla MC is anywhere around 10,000 and we are seeking a one-time settlement from the state government so that their status could become legal,” said a councillor. A large number of MC Councillors have been persistently raising this issue hanging fore for the last almost two decades, seeking their one-time settlement.
The biggest hurdle in settling the cases of these illegal structures is the past court orders, barring the state government from bringing about a retention policy. Prior to this, the state government has brought seven retention policy to give relief to violations in building norms. This has only emboldened those undertaking construction in violation of the building norms under the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, 1977. People have been seen undertaking construction in violation of norms in the hope of yet another retention policy providing them relief.
The SMC has taken up the issue of one time settlement of the unauthorized structures as these cannot be provided water or electricity connections as per norms. It is following the nod given by the Supreme Court to the Shimla Development Plan that has raised the hopes of the SMC in getting some relief for a final settlement of these unauthorised structures, across the state.
Successive governments have tried to provide relief to the owners of these unauthorised structures but with court orders preventing another retention policy, there seems to be no solution in sight. The court orders were issued following the state government brining about seven retention policies which in a way has encourage illegal constructions.
The courts, including the Supreme Court, National Green Tribunal and High Court have come down heavily on the Town and Country Planning department, municipal bodies and other regulatory bodies in their failure to check haphazard unregulated constructions in violations of norms.
