E-Paper
Stay on construction of flats by private developers
Two days after a building collapse in Shalimar Garden, the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has decided to stay the construction of flats by private builders until officials make sure they are following regulations.
Two days after a building collapse in Shalimar Garden, the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has decided to stay the construction of flats by private builders until officials make sure they are following regulations.
“We are directing our engineers to carry out a thorough survey of the single-unit housing plot constructions in the city and ensure that building by-laws are adhered to,” GDA vice-chairman Narendra Kumar Chaudhary said.
A preliminary investigation into Saturday’s building collapse, in which four persons were killed and 14 injured, showed the builder constructed 48 flats on four floors.
He had permission to build six flats on two floors.
Single-unit housing plots are meant to have single owners. But in many cases, builders obtain GDA’s approval for constructing more floors. The GDA allows construction of up to three floors on single-unit housing plots. However, builders construct individual flats on the floors and sell them to buyers illegally.
Officials said single-unit plots can be legally allotted to others, either by family succession or through sub-division procedures, approved by the authority.
“The engineers will submit a survey report and those buildings where by-laws are violated will be demolished. Their builders will be penalised and subjected to legal action,” said Chaudhary.
Those who are following the rules will be allowed to restart construction. However, officials will not check the quality of construction material being used.
Unauthorised construction has taken a toll of the city’s civic infrastructure, putting pressure on the sewage disposal system and increasing electricity consumption.
Additional district magistrate (finance) Sivakant Dwivedi said illegal constructions can only be checked at the development stage only by the GDA.
“We only see that buyer and seller are ready for an agreement and pay us the stamp duty. Building violations are not in our preview,” he said.
Stay updated with all top Cities including, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai and more across India. Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News along with Delhi Election 2025 and Delhi Election Result 2025 Live, New Delhi Election Result Live, Kalkaji Election Result Live at Hindustan Times.
