Punjab: Draft building bylaws draw ire of Opposition, green activists

The state government has received over 300 suggestions and objections to its draft unified building bylaws, with several respondents expressing concern over the lack of proper assessment to gauge its impact on the existing infrastructure in cities amid rising population.

As the 30-day period to file objections to the draft bylaws ends on August 23, the state’s main opposition Congress termed it a “ploy to benefit corporates”. The party sought a discussion over it in the state Assembly.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) alleged that the change in bylaws was being introduced to “compensate” the builders who had been “eyeing to acquire” land cheaply under the land pooling policy that the government was forced to withdraw following statewide protests.

Meanwhile, officials in the Housing and Urban Development Department said the suggestions would be reviewed by a panel of experts before proceeding further.

The draft Punjab Unified Building Rules, 2025, permit the construction of stilt-plus-four floors on residential plots. The department has allowed an increase in the height of the buildings up to 17.5m.

The waiver would come with a rider that the plot should be situated on roads that are 12m (40ft) or wider.

Commenting over it, several environmentalists said the move would lead to congestion and increase in population density. The Public Action Committee led by Jaskirat Singh, Kapil Arora, Kuldeep Singh Khaira and Dr Amardeep Sigh Bains pointed out that the proposed bylaws would lead to overcrowding, traffic congestion and commercialisation of homes.

‘Impact assessment ignored’

They opined that the rules should be framed after keeping in mind the capacity of public infrastructure, protection of social and cultural balance and the existing green cover. A Sangrur-based activist, Jasinder Sekhon, said neither any environmental or social impact assessment was carried out nor any futuristic study undertaken to gauge infrastructure needs of the next 20 years.

“This approach is retrograde and short-sighted, undermining scientific urban planning,” she said.

She said Punjab cities were already struggling with overburdened sewage systems, recurring waterlogging, scarcity of safe drinking water, poor drainage networks, shrinking green cover, rising traffic congestion and increasing pollution.

“Instead of addressing these existing deficiencies, the draft open the door to unregulated vertical growth and higher densities that will only worsen the situation,” she added.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Pargat Singh alleged that the government “wanted to appease” the builders after failing to implement the land pooling policy, under which it had targeted to acquire around 65,000 acres.

“The government is proposing construction of stilt-plus-four floors on residential plots in licensed colonies and sectors without assessing impact it would have on the basic infrastructure,” he added.

Pargat demanded a discussion on the issue in the state Assembly and an all-party meeting with environmental and farm organisations.

Punjab Congress president Amrinder Raja Warring said the government was “so adamant to loot Punjab of its resources” that after failing to implement the land pooling policy, it introduced the draft bylaws. “AAP supremo (Arvind Kejriwal) used to cry foul over the Delhi pollution, what about Punjab’s environmental concerns,” the Congress leader asked.

‘Will destroy cities’

SAD chief Sukhbir Badal too slammed the move, saying if implemented, the new rules would destroy Punjab’s towns and cities.

“In a quid pro quo after being forced to withdraw the land pooling scheme following sustained pressure from farmers, Arvind Kejriwal is now gearing up to compensate builders who gave him thousands of crores to acquire cheap land in Punjab,” he alleged.