Meeting held to check haphazard village development

While the construction outside the lal dora is considered illegal,around 70 per cent of the population in the villages is either residing or have commercial activities outside this red line.

The villagers contend that due to the increase in the size of the families,there is a need for them to expand their houses. The villagers hold the opinion that they should be allowed to do so.

Another problem is that different laws govern the villages under the Municipal Corporation and the UT Administration. A need is felt for common set of guidelines so that the construction can be regulated.

In the villages,the construction takes place without much regulation. A number of illegal guest houses have sprouted up in many villages. The problem is more acute in villages Attawa,Burail and Kajheri. The buildings that have come up lack safety measures. Dingy rooms and lack of ventilation are common. At some places basements have also been constructed. There is a lack of parking space.

The lanes in the villages are so narrow that it is not possible for the emergency services vehicles to cross. This concern was also raised in the meeting. It was suggested that only non-polluting activities be allowed to take place in the villages.

The meeting was attended by UT Finance Secretary V K Singh,Chief Architect Sumit Kaur and Additional Commissioner Lalit Siwach among others.