DTCP move against illegal structures hailed as ‘bold’

Gurgaon: Residents of DLF areas and Sushant Lok 1 have welcomed the crackdown against erring property owners by the department of town and country planning (DTCP).
On Monday, the department cancelled occupation certificates (OCs) of 38 residential buildings in DLF areas and Sushant Lok 1 for violation of building norms, raising the alarm among a section of property owners.
A highly placed source in DTCP told TOI on Tuesday that some of these property owners were seeking a review of the decision, and pressuring officials through their contacts, including a few of the local politicians.
However, hundreds of residents supported the town planning body’s move, and appealed for crackdown against illegal commercial activities, claiming it had been adversely affecting the civic infrastructure and causing other problems.
Officials said the residential buildings which were constructed violating norms were being used for commercial activities, causing a loss of revenue to the state exchequer to the tune of several crores of rupees, every year. The department had been getting frequent complaints against property owners who had turned residential buildings into gyms, salons, showrooms, clinics, educational institutions etc.
“The department has taken a bold and unprecedented action against the erring property owners. The situation of the internal roads in DLF 1 had gone terribly wrong after property owners made buildings having as much as 80-85% coverage area on all four floors after getting occupation certificates under the self-certification scheme,” said a resident.
Not just this, another resident said, some of them had even added rooms to the stilt area (ground level of a building). “Such illegal construction activities have been going on at a frantic pace, and if the same is not checked in the initial stages, our problems will multiply,” he added.
Earlier, a resident had approached DTCP, saying most residential buildings in lane number 14 of DLF 1 had been converted into commercial structures by builders in complete violation of norms. The action against illegal structures was necessary for maintaining the colony’s beauty and serenity, he said.
Many residents also alleged there were numerous multi-storey PGs in their areas, which were disturbing the demand-supply ratio of power, water and parking space.
District town planner (planning) R S Batth said, “Other residential buildings, which have been flouting norms, are being identified and the department will take action against them. No illegal commercial activity will be allowed in residential areas.”