Houses outside Lal Dora to get amenities

CHANDIGARH, Nov 18: The Chandigarh Administration has decided in principle, to provide basic civic amenities to those houses in all the 18 v...

CHANDIGARH, Nov 18: The Chandigarh Administration has decided in principle, to provide basic civic amenities to those houses in all the 18 villages of the Union territory which are outside the Lal Dora but adjacent to the main village abadis. However, the demolition of illegal structures in villages would continue.

According to an official press release, the decision would be implemented after preparing development plans for such areas and permissions would be accorded as per the provisions of the New Capital (Periphery) Act.

The policy decision has been taken on the basis of the recommendations of the three committees constituted by the Administration in May 1998, which submitted their survey reports in August 1998 on such houses which came up adjoining to the village main abadis, but had been constructed since long.

The decision was considered necessary in order to maintain the principle of planned development and also in deference to the reality that villages have been expanding to meet the requirement of housing in the union territory. Such requirements would, however, be catered to in a planned manner.

The basic civic services now planned to be provided would, however, be provided in these categories of houses on payment of development charges, which include cost of providing electricity, water supply, sewerage, roads and drainage.

Such facilities would first be extended to houses covered in the survey reports of the three committees, for which a detailed plan is also being prepared separately.

Since the preparation of schemes for sewerage and water supply and their implementation, besides provision of other services like roads and drains in unplanned areas is a time-consuming process, the same would be extended in phases, subject to availability and budgetary resources. Though this would be done on a priority basis, the press release added, the provision of electricity connections could be taken up in the first instance.

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The Administration has also made it clear that it would continue to demolish unauthorised structures coming up in violation of the Periphery Act, as had been done recently in village Raipur Kalan. To prevent further construction around villages, the Administration has also decided to take up planned development around village abadis or in other appropriate places which will provide for low-income and EWS housing to the public.

On the other hand, to regulate further construction in the relevant areas where basic services are going to be provided, these would be subject to building controls which may be further evolved. Controls in these areas would primarily relate to the covered area and health and sanitation, even as architectural controls would be minimal.