CHB flats home to illegal constructions

CHB officials highlight that building violations are to be identified by the Board8217;s enforcement branch and forwarded to the Estate Office. Thereafter, demolitions of these violations is to be carried out by the Estate Office. They add that as of now, CHB has sent 1,983 references to the Estate Office.

Out of these, 800 demolitions were carried out for encroachment on government land and five demolitions in the CHB units within the building area.

This, however, has not prevented such unauthorised construction by the residents. Most residents say that they are doing it since their neighbours did it. Getting the building plan sanctioned also does not really figure in their priority list.

Take the case of Gyan Singh, resident of an LIG house in Sector 47. He has covered the entire terrace on both the second and the third floors and is also constructing rooms on the third floor.

Ask him whether this may be dangerous for the strength of the house since the foundation may not be strong enough to bear the weight of the third floor, and he is nonchalant about it. quot;Everybody has done it, so I am doing it too,quot; he shrugs.

And what about getting the building plan approved if additional construction is to be undertaken? quot;Nobody in these houses has taken permission for such construction till now,quot; he points out casually.

quot;The residents on the ground floor have covered the entire backyard. We have to make more rooms on account of the requirements of a larger family,quot; he adds.

Residents on the ground floor complain that taking the building up to the third floor, which is not authorised, may endanger the structure. quot;But who can question them? It will simply lead to a fight,quot; says Rekha Mehra, ground-floor occupant of a LIG house.

Rekha points to a crack in the ceiling of her house. quot;This was caused when the marble was being laid on the upper floor,quot; she points out.Interestingly, while the UT Architecture Department planned these houses with a backyard, now there is no such thing left in a large number of these houses. The area has been covered by adding rooms so that the blocks which have their back to each other, look like a single continuous structure.

The officials say that notices have been, and will be, issued to the defaulters.

Other residents, however, assert that additional floors should not be raised since the foundation may be weak to carry the increased weight. quot;But then, if those living in much bigger houses encroach on government land for expansion or raise more floors, why blame a person living in a smaller house who always has to make adjustments with folding beds and chairs?quot; questions Bhupinder Singh, resident of a LIG house.