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Illegal constructions continue unabated
Allahabad Development Authority (ADA) may not be having enough funds to pay salary to its employees, but a section of its officials including zonal officers, engineers and building inspectors leave no opportunity to promote illegal construction activity. Things become all the more shocking when such a building activity is allowed on road widening and the footpath.
Allahabad Development Authority (ADA) may not be having enough funds to pay salary to its employees, but a section of its officials including zonal officers, engineers and building inspectors leave no opportunity to promote illegal construction activity. Things become all the more shocking when such a building activity is allowed on road widening and the footpath.
And this is what is exactly happening at the most busy Lok Nath crossing in Chowk area of the city.
The structure is coming up fast in utter violation of all norms for the past nearly seven months and is being built on hundred percent land even though rules say that such a commercial complex can only be constructed on just 50 percent of the land.
There is no provision of parking which is a must. Front set back, side set back and rear set back are non-existent here. What adds sugar to the spice is the fact that the map of the building which reportedly belongs to a prominent jeweller of the area has not been passed.
Insiders say, such illegal buildings were coming up under the garb of repairing of the old structure. Thus giving fillip to illegal construction activity which has almost destroyed the infrastructure of the city. All this goes for a cut from the lowest man to the top most authority in Allahabad Development Authority.
In sharp contrast to this if a person approaches the Allahabad Development Authority for getting a regular map of any type of building passed or for land use conversion, or compounding, he is harassed to such an extent that he ultimately kneels down to accept all that the officials concerned wanted him to do.
Besides it the illegal construction activity is going on in many other localities like Kothaparcha, Bahadurganj and South Malaka.
Another such commercial building is coming up blatantly at the Muir Road-Minto Road crossing in Rajapur. This building also violates the concept of road widening and footpath besides other building laws. But who cares as long as the violator keeps the officials happy.
Interestingly, demolition order against Rajapur building had been passed six months ago but the same could not be carried out as the officials concerned were deliberately delaying the same, alleged the sources.
When contacted zonal officer of the Allahabad Development Authority Baijnath appeared confused whether the area in which the building is coming up comes under his zone or not. He said, he had no idea about the illegal construction.
In the case of the illegal construction in Rajapur which is also under him he said, he has informed the police station concerned. Interestingly, the zonal officer feigned ignorance to the earlier order of demolition of this building.
