Illegal construction: Houses for economically weaker sections in Gurugram to lose power connections

During the district task force committee meeting, officials decided to cut basic services such as water, power and sewerage to houses built in violation of norms.

The district task force committee, to curb illegal construction on plots for the economically weaker sections (EWS), ordered the power department to disconnect electricity connections given to buildings that have been constructed in violation of norms.

According to officials, three to four storey buildings have been constructed on these plots, in violation of building norms. Power department ordered to sever connections. (Parveen Kumar/HT File)

Vinay Pratap Singh, the deputy commissioner of Gurugram, said that during the district task force committee meeting, the officials decided to cut basic services, such as water, power and sewerage, to houses built in violation of norms. They also directed that the due process of the law, including issuing notices and giving time to the owners for making amendments to conform to rules, should take place before they are declared illegal.

“This, in addition to regular demolitions, is being done as a deterrent to ensure there is no illegal construction,” said Singh.

Officials of the department of town and country planning (DTCP) said that the drive to disconnect services will start from the buildings on EWS plots in DLF-3 and DLF-5. Then, action will be taken in South City-1 and 2, Sushant Lok and Malibu Town, where the department has identified 157 illegal constructions.

“The owners of these plots in different sectors have three to four illegal storeys, constructed in violation of the rules. We have identified 157 such houses in DLF-3 and 5 and power supply to these would be disconnected. The developer has also been asked to disconnect the water and sewage connections, as these colonies have not been handed over to the corporation,” said Ved Prakash Sehrawat, district town planner, enforcement.

Amit Madholia, assistant town planner (enforcement), said that the power supply and other amenities are being disconnected so that people stop living in these dangerous buildings and also that commercial activities are stopped.

DTCP officials also said that, in the meeting, they decided that sale and purchase of land should not be registered in villages where the enforcement wing has identified illegal colonies.

“There are a number of villages in which dealers are trying to develop illegal colonies, but we have informed the revenue officials of this matter,” Sehrawat said.

Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitaran Nigam (DHBVN), the power discom, has also been apprised of the issue by the task force and it has been given a list of illegal houses identified by the authorities.

KC Agarwal, superintending engineer, DHBVN, confirmed that a list of EWS houses in DLF areas has been provided by the DTCP for disconnecting the power supply. “We have received directions from the deputy commissioner of Gurugram to disconnect power to the EWS houses, which have been identified. A drive will be started against the violators this week,” he added.