Several plot owners in U and V blocks of DLF-3 have violated the building norms by covering 100% of the available area, constructing six-seven-storey buildings and combining two or more smaller plots of 60 to 120 square yards each to use the entire premises for commercial establishments, like offices, shops and restaurants without seeking permits.
District town planner (enforcement) RS Batth said the incident in Pataudi’s Khawaspur should be an eye-opener. “Recently, we sealed around 150 properties built on smaller plots in the EWS (economically weaker section) category because of carrying out illegal commercial activities and constructions. After the latest incident of building collapse, we are ready to take stricter action against violators by registering FIRs against them,” he said. Batth added that the department will remove all encroachments immediately and demolish extra floors constructed in violation of the building norms.
Licences for residential plotted colonies are issued according to provisions of the Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act, 1975, and Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Rules, 1976.
“While approving the zoning plan, it is categorically mentioned that only one dwelling unit is allowed for each EWS plot. Further, 66% of ground coverage and 2.64 floor area ratio (FAR) is allowed, as per the rules,” Batth said.
Residents say these blocks of DLF-3 have become almost “unliveable” because of the number of illegal paying guest accommodations and guest houses that have come up in the past few years. “Not only are these buildings unsafe, but they also add to the chaos in the area. Such arrangements put pressure on the existing resources and facilities, like electricity and water supply,” said Deepak Arora, a DLF-3 resident.
Another resident said that almost 80% of houses in the residential area have been turned into guest houses and paying guest accommodations. “If an incident like the one at Pataudi happens here, the number of casualties will be much higher,” he said. Recently, a group of residents constituted a panel to keep a check on unauthorised constructions on plots earmarked for houses in the EWS category within DLF-3. The committee has to prepare a database with a list of all EWS plots, ownership details and violations noticed.
