Gurgaon: Illegal gate removed on behest of former govt official

The district town planning (DTP) department’s enforcement team on Wednesday removed an iron gate to make entry and exit easy for people visiting the retired bureaucrat in Aravalli Green at DLF Phase-3

Following complaints from a senior retired IAS officer, who had worked with the Haryana government, the district town planning (DTP) department’s enforcement team on Wednesday removed an iron gate to make entry and exit easy for people visiting the retired bureaucrat in Aravalli Green at DLF Phase-3.

Residents of the society, however, said that the gate ensured security to their society.

Dr G Prasanna Kumar, the director of Haryana Institute of Public Administration (HIPA), said he had lodged a complaint in this regard two years ago.

“Entry and exit through the gate in question was restricted due to the monopoly of the RWA members, who never maintained the timing. The gate was erected without permission and it was not required. I was after the department to remove it,” said Dr Prasanna.

Residents of the society, however, said that the gate ensured security to their society.

A senior official of DTP Enforcement said that the gate was installed years ago and it was replaced about three years ago as the older gate was damaged.

Captain (retired) JS Chaudhary, president of the RWA, Aravalli Green, said, “I have never seen a huge police force and bulldozers arrive at a spot for such a minor task — to remove an iron gate — which was put up for a common good. The exercise of the DTP enforcement team revealed that officials are more inclined to serve senior bureaucrats than ensuring the security of the area.”

Residents had also asked the enforcement team for additional time to seek permissions. However, the DTP enforcement team maintained that no RWA can erect a gate without permission from the district administration.

“The government issued a notification in July 2014 in this regard and any RWA can appeal or write to the administration and seek permission. We removed the gate from Aravalli Green as it was illegally installed,” said Amit Madholia, assistant town planner.