Illegal farmhouse colony in Sohna demolished

Officials of the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) said that the colony was being developed without necessary permissions from the competent authorities and sold to buyers in violation of norms

An illegal under-construction farmhouse colony on 50 acres in Bhogpur and Kiranaki villages of Sohna was demolished on Thursday, officials said.

DTCP officials said that a police team of 100 personnel was also called in to provide support for the drive, in which the boundary wall, road network, light poles and guardrooms were demolished.

Officials of the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) said that the colony was being developed without necessary permissions from the competent authorities and sold to buyers in violation of norms. A developer has to obtain either change of land use permission or licence to develop a group housing or plotted colony, according to the Haryana urban development rules.

RS Bhath, district town planner (enforcement), said that notices had also been issued to the developers over illegal constructions, directing them to stop further work. “Since the violations did not stop, we decided that the illegal farmhouse colony, under the name of Nature Valley, in Kiranaki and Bhogpur villages of Sohna should be demolished. Four earthmoving machines were pressed into service to demolish the illegal structures spread over roughly 50 acres,” he said.

DTCP officials said that a police team of 100 personnel was also called in to provide support for the drive, in which the boundary wall, road network, light poles and guardrooms were demolished.

Bhath said that the illegal development of farmhouses on agricultural land or forest land will not be allowed. “Action will be taken against landowners and developers who are selling these properties to gullible buyers. A drone survey is already underway to identify such illegal structures in the district,” he said.

According to the details shared by the department, demolition drives will be conducted on the outskirts of the city, particularly in Badhshahpur, Farrukhnagar and Manesar, this month to stop illegal constructions, especially illegal colonies.

Ashish Sharma, assistant town planner (enforcement), said that they will also interact with buyers in these areas and make them aware of the futility of buying properties in illegal colonies.