State under fire for illegal constructions

Pulling up the state government authorities for taking up the issue of illegal constructions around the Air Force Stations in Gurgaon and Faridabad, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has given two months' time to complete demarcation of the restricted areas.

Pulling up the state government authorities for taking up the issue of illegal constructions around the Air Force Stations in Gurgaon and Faridabad, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has given two months' time to complete demarcation of the restricted areas. With this ruling, the sword of demolition now hangs on thousands buildings constructed within 900-m radius around the IAF depot in Gurgaon.

HT Image

These constructions were brought up at the plots illegally sold to the gullible people by the fly-by-night property dealers. The division bench comprising chief justice Arjan Kumar Sikri and justice Rakesh Kumar Jain also directed the authorities, including municipal corporations of both the cities, to suggest how the illegal structures can be removed.

As per rules, no construction can be raised within 100-m restricted area from the parapet of Air Force Station at Faridabad and within 900-m restricted area from the parapet of Air Force ammunition depot at Gurgaon.

The court also asked the authorities to inform the court about paying of compensation to the residents who will have to be removed from the restricted area and also about the concerned authority who is liable to pay the compensation.

The bench further added , "We know what will be the situation after six months, if we stop looking the case. If some unfortunate incident happens, there would be mass destruction. It is an ammunition depot in Gurgaon."

During the hearing of the case, the secretary of Haryana urban local bodies department and the municipal commissioners of Faridabad and Gurgaon were also present.

The central government's senior standing counsel on special engagement Onkar Singh Batalvi told the court about a large number of illegal constructions that had come up in the restricted areas even after stay by the high court. He said the illegal constructions posed a security threat.

However, Faridabad Municipal Corporation's counsel informed the court that the corporation was taking all steps to check illegal constructions.

Many structures may be razed

Several prominent structures within the 900-metre radius of the India Air force ammunition depot in Gurgaon will be razed if the HC finally orders so.

Important structures, including Maruti Suzuki's Gurgaon plant, major areas of Udyog Vihar Phase-4, Sector-14 market, offices of the government departments like the Huda, will face the brunt. The SC in December last year had asked the authorities not to demolish any structure falling within the 900-metre area till a final order was passed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.