Illegal colonies continue to crop up in peripheral areas of Ludhiana

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, August 3

Even after the policy for regularisation of illegal colonies has lapsed long ago, the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), it seems, have failed to rise to the occasion and take action as per provisions of law against development of unlicensed colonies that were coming up all around the periphery of the city.

According to reports, works were being carried out in at least 12 illegal colonies in Bulara, Sangowal, Rania and Jaspal Bangar villages but despite registering of complaints with regulatory officials of GLADA, no action had been taken till now against developers. In one particular case, the gram panchayat of Bulara had filed a complaint against development of several colonies around the village but the GLADA officials failed to act in the matter.

A social activist, Kuldeep Singh Khaira, had lodged a complaint with the GLADA regulatory officials on June 12, 2020, alleging that development works were being executed in several colonies located in villages on the periphery of the city, and specifically in Bulara and some other villages.

Khaira claimed that he had also personally met senior GLADA officials with regard to development of illegal colonies on the periphery with a request that action as per law be taken against the unlawful activities.

In the same context, the Bulara village panchayat had sent a representation signed by the sarpanch and all panches about some illegal colonies coming up around the village without obtaining mandatory permission and licenses. The panchayat, through a resolution, had asked the GLADA officials to take action against the developers.

GLADA Estate Officer Sonam Chaudhry, however, claimed that field staff had inspected most of the colonies where works were said to be in progress.

“In those cases where the developers have already submitted their applications for regularisation of colonies under the government policy, any further action has been put on the hold since the applications are still under process. But in case of other illegal/unlicensed colonies structures were pulled down and developers have been sternly warned against carrying out any further construction or development work,” she said, adding that the field staff and supervisory officials were keeping a strict vigil on the unscrupulous developers and no illegal colony would be allowed to be developed.

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