Haryana’s S+4 policy: Ex-Army chief V P Malik vows to continue his fight

The former defence officer alleged that some conditions for construction mentioned in the report are loopholes to be able to maintain the status quo. “This will lead to Panchkula turning into ghettos in the next few years,” he said.

A meeting of the presidents and representatives of the residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) was held at the residence of the retired officer Thursday evening.

“Everyone took note of the recent floods which had once again shown the inadequacy of infrastructure, particularly of drainage, water supply shortage and power outages. Residential areas which suffered the most are those with high-rise constructions on both sides of the roads,” the retired Army chief said.

The members decided that the “protest against illegal apartmentalisation and any construction of S+4 buildings of plans passed earlier in old Haryana Sheheri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) sectors should continue at judicial levels and with political authorities.”

They felt that the government-appointed panel was eyewash to carry on the illegal and anti-welfare rules framed to apartmentalise old sectors developed by HSVP (HUDA) in Panchkula.

The retired General had earlier raised environmental concerns due to S+4 floors concept which would also lead to the “alleged massive misuse of private property as is already happening in Delhi, Gurgaon and other neighbouring towns.”

“The expert committee comprised the very same people who had earlier made frequent illegal amendments to the state building codes in violation of National Building Code, National Environment Codes, the concept of plotted residential development and the original Panchkula Master Plan,” said a statement by the Panchakula Citizens Welfare Association.

It was added that by allowing S+4 flats on roads which are 12-metre wide (according to experts, this distance is wall-to-wall across the road, not the width of tarmac road) and more, it has accepted such construction to take place in almost the whole of Panchkula.

The Haryana government has been facing strong protests against its policy allowing the construction of ‘four floors plus stilt houses’ in the old HSVP (HUDA) sectors in Panchkula and elsewhere. Following the widespread resentment, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar put this policy on hold in the entire state and set up a committee to re-examine the issue earlier this year.

However, General Malik and other residents stated that the committee was not independent and its report would be processed by the department that had previously recommended and framed the concept.

The attendees felt that apartmentalisation with S+4F concept and increase in FAR in old sectors has been devised primarily to favour builders’ lobbies and to collect additional revenues. It has not considered health and welfare hazards for the present and future generations of Panchkula, they alleged.

The ban on apartmentalisation in Chandigarh has attracted builders to Panchkula, paving way for rampant illegal construction activities.

The HSVP has not been able to stop misuse and commercialisation of S+3F or 4F which have come up in some sectors. Most of the cars are parked on the roads even where stilts or space inside houses is available.

It was discussed and announced that “everyone was of the view that any plans for the construction of S+4F, even if passed earlier, should be cancelled forthwith and any further construction is banned.”

“Everyone took note of the judicial cases filed in the High Court by residents whose property has been damaged due to apartment constructions next door. There are many more such sufferers. As the HSVP is unable or unwilling to stop such constructions all such sufferers should be encouraged to file suits in the High Court,” the Panchkula citizens’ forum added.

It was decided that the protest against illegal apartmentalisation and any construction of S+4F buildings of plans passed earlier in old HSVP sectors should continue at judicial levels and with political authorities.