Residents protest against constructions in Gurugram’s green belts

Sushant Lok 1 residents, on Sunday, stopped construction in a local park and informed police and the developer to take necessary action in the matter after maintenance agency of the colony, Pro Facility management of Ansal API, said it had not granted permission for any construction.

Residents said the green belt or park in Block C was part of the original layout plan. Sushant Lok 1 was developed in 1980s and is the second privately developed locality in Gurugram after DLF Limited. The area is maintained by the developer, Ansal API.

Residents first spotted some construction activity about five days ago and got it stopped, but the workers returned on Sunday to resume work. Construction workers said they were constructing a milk booth, as directed by a resident of the same colony. However, the construction workers refused to reveal name of the man who hired them.

“No resident has authority to do any construction in any green belt. We told construction workers to stay away till the police and administration verify truth and the matter is disposed. Construction workers told us that they had been directed to erect a milk booth. We do not know who has hired these men as it is responsibility of developer and administration to find it. We are to lodge a police complaint on Tuesday,” said Satish Yadav.

The construction was stopped after residents approached area councillor Arti Yadav visited the site and demanded the construction be stopped till the time all facts are verified.

Over 50 residents of the area have signed a letter that they plan to submit to the district town planning (DTP) department, the district administration and the police on Tuesday.

A senior executive of Ansal API said, “I have sought a report from our project cell in this matter. We can comment once we get detailed report of the status of the site (whether it is a green belt) and construction details.”

DTP enforcement Ved Prakash Sehrawat said, “I have directed my staff to get the matter checked and submit a report at the earliest. I will take action if anything illegal is happening.”

A similar incident was reported from E Block of Palam Vihar where residents approached local court last Friday.

Ashutosh Shelat, petitioner and resident of E Block, said, “We spotted construction in the green belt 30 metres from our house and along the natural drain. We questioned the construction workers, but did not get much information about who hired them. We tried to gather information about status of the green belt from other residents, but failed. Finally, we filed a case in the local court which did not grant stay on construction but agreed to hear it on September 7. In the original layout of the colony passed in 1985, the site is shown as green belt and maintained all these years same. We fail to understand sudden construction.”

The residents of Palam Vihar plan to meet officials at the DTP (planning and enforcement) on Tuesday.

First Published: Sep 04, 2018 05:32 IST