Hindustan Times (Gurugram)

DTCP partially razes 3 illegal buildings in Saraswati Kunj

- Abhishek Behl abhishek.behl@hindustant­imes.com

We have directed the estate manager of Saraswati Kunj to barricade the entrances of the colony to ensure no vehicle carrying constructi­on material enters the colony. AMIT MADHOLIA, district town planner (enforcemen­t)

GURUGRAM: An enforcemen­t team of the department of town and country planning (DTCP) carried out a demolition drive in Saraswati Kunj colony in Sector 53, adjacent to the Golf Course Road on Friday.

DTCP officials said the enforcemen­t team partially demolished illegal structures on 14 plots. The team also sealed 11 eateries that were constructe­d illegally, they added.

Amit Madholia, district town planner (enforcemen­t), said that illegal constructi­ons were being carried out by anti-social elements and building materials were supplied at night.

“We have directed the estate manager of Saraswati Kunj to barricade the entrances of the colony to ensure no vehicle carrying constructi­on material enters the c o l o n y . We w i l l request the deputy commission­er and the police to ensure regular checking is carried out to prevent the movement of vehicles carrying constructi­on materials, which are used in illegal constructi­ons”, he said.

Saraswati Kunj is a zero-tolerance area as far as illegal constructi­ons are concerned as the entire matter is subjudice due to ownership issues, said DTCP officials.

Madholia said that there were three five-story illegal buildings that were demolished partially as the earth moving machines could not reach the higher floors. He, however, said that building materials lying on the ground floor and outside such as stones, tiles, sanitary fittings, steel bars, electric fittings, etc. have been crushed.

“We will inform the Municipal Corporatio­n of Gurugram (MCG) commission­er that these buildings are unsafe and necessary action should be initiated,” Madholia said. During the drive, the enforcemen­t team also found that some persons were carrying out constructi­ons after getting third party rights by defying existing rules.

In one instance, the team found that one person was developing a farmhouse by combining two plots along with one plot of undevelope­d land of the licenced colony against the rules.

Madholia said that the entire farmhouse, having several rooms and facilities, was demolished. “We have also sealed 11 eateries on the Golf Course road, which were constructe­d illegally,” he added.

The Saraswati Kunj society was set up as a cooperativ­e group in the year 1983. It has remained in controvers­y after it allotted plots to 9,000 applicants by 2004, while only 4,000 plots could be accommodat­ed.

The housing society project has remained stuck since then with the government forming a commission to resolve the dispute among members. The matter is also under the considerat­ion of the Punjab and Haryana high court, which had also directed the DTCP to remove encroachme­nts in the colony.

 ?? HT PHOTO ?? Three five-storey illegal buildings in Saraswati Kunj were demolished partially as the earth moving machines could not reach the higher floors.
HT PHOTO Three five-storey illegal buildings in Saraswati Kunj were demolished partially as the earth moving machines could not reach the higher floors.

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