Despite having been flagged by Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) Illegal construction continues unabated in Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar, locals claim builders of constructing commercial buildings in the residential area.
Residents had been petitioning the LIT for months to act against commercial establishments being built in the area. But the control over the area was handed over to the municipal corporation (MC) in April.
“This is a residential area. No commercial buildings can come up here. But for the past some time some buildings have come up in the area that flout the construction bylaws blatantly,” said Arvind Sharma, a social activist and resident of SBS Nagar, who has been taking up the issue.
He said that the bylaws specify that no building can be taller than 2.5 stories. “But many people have tall buildings including some 4-5 stories. They make hotels and PGs here in violation of the terms of allotment which are purely for residential purposes.
He also alleged that 40 gaj plots were reserved for economically weaker sections (EWS). But now some people have bought the adjacent plots and merged them into one to build bigger buildings. The bylaws also specify that all the area cannot be covered in the plot to ensure parking space.
{{/usCountry}}He also alleged that 40 gaj plots were reserved for economically weaker sections (EWS). But now some people have bought the adjacent plots and merged them into one to build bigger buildings. The bylaws also specify that all the area cannot be covered in the plot to ensure parking space.
{{/usCountry}}All of this will bring more people in the area and stress the sewage, water and other infrastructure.
LIT chairman Tarsem Singh Bhinder had earlier said that the urban body had issued notices to the owners of the respective plots the construction was taking place on. “We serve three notices before we cancel their allotment. While this process was going on the LIT handed over responsibilities of the area to the MC. Now they will take it further,” he said.
Assistant town planner (MC) Harvinder Singh said “the process was going on to take action against the illegal buildings” but didn’t give any timeline. “We are also checking the under construction buildings,” he added.