Illegal constructions thrive, delay work on infrastructure upgrade

Times of India: Ludhiana: Sunday, 31 January 2016.

Unauthorised constructions are posing a big challenge to the planned development of Gurgaon. Despite the MCG identifying over 700 illegal structures in the past three years, it has largely failed to act against such activities. Civic officials, however, attribute this failure to a shortage of manpower.

According to an RTI response, 745 unauthorised constructions have been detected by the MCG in the municipal area between January 2013 and December 2015. Suprisingly, the civic body has razed only 41 such structures and not a single FIR has been filed in the 745 cases.

"MCG is turning a blind eye to unauthorised constructions and they have given a free run to builders and developers," said RTI activist Aseem Takyar, adding there may be a a number of undetected cases.

Town planners say the illegal constructions have been hindering the city's development as every time a road is to be built or a water pipe is to be laid, the civic body has to raze the structures.

"Unauthorised constructions always compromise with the planned development as it is done in violation of the set rules and guidelines. Such constructions not only mess with the civic amenities but also pose problem to movement of traffic," retired government town planner SC Kush said.

He added: "Most of the problems of the city can be attributed to unauthorised constructions. In planned development of a city, space is marked for all civic amenities, but unauthorised constructions are done by compromising these amenities."

As per the guidelines of the urban local bodies, municipal corporations have to prepare monthly reports about action taken against unauthorised constructions and upload it on their official website. "Despite this, MCG is not serious about unauthorised constructions," Takyar said.

When contacted, deputy commissioner and MCG chief admitted the need to strengthen the monitoring and enforcement wing of the municipal corporation. "Development came first and regulation came later in Gurgaon. Now regulation has to catch up with development," said Stayaprakash.

He added, "We need the help of urban planners to determine how to deal with unauthorised constructions. There is limited manpower to monitor and act against it. In many places in new Gurgaon, people have constructed five-storied building over 500 square feet of land, it is very dangerous."