Help PUDA in demolition, Punjab told

CHANDIGARH, July 28: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Punjab government to provide all possible help, including police assistance, to the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority PUDA for demolition of unauthorised constructions on the UT periphery.

The next date of hearing has been fixed for August 10 when the Chandigarh Administration would present a report after completing the survey of violations in the periphery and the course of action adopted to implement the Periphery Control Act. A division bench consisting of Justices Amarjeet Chaudhary and V.S. Aggarwal also directed the Administration to provide extra staff for the purpose.

The bench has also given two weeks8217; time to the Haryana government to complete the survey of the houses constructed in violation of the Periphery Control Act, under its jurisdiction. The High Court also sought a list of persons from the respective counsel of Punjab, Haryana and UT, who had done construction in violation of the Act.

It is learnt that PUDA had issued 1,500 notices to violators in the areas adjoining Chandigarh, which needed to be acted upon. The HC order now enjoins on the government to act in accordance with law.