Uniform policy on illegal constructions

PUNE, Oct 13: The draft policy on unauthorised constructions in prominent cities and the satellite townships around them reeling under pr...

PUNE, Oct 13: The draft policy on unauthorised constructions in prominent cities and the satellite townships around them reeling under pressures of urbanisation recommends the razing of illegal structures defying road alignments in the development plans.

The draft policy, prepared by the Directorate of Town Planning here in February last, is expected to be among the first few tasks for the new incumbent in the State Urban Development department. The document presses for a comprehensive policy to deal with ever-mushrooming unauthorised structures almost all over the State.

The draft mainly deals with development zone-floutings, illegal land deals and unauthorized use of available space. The directorate conducted extensive surveys in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nagpur, Sangli and Kolhapur identifying 8220;several thousand8221; illegal structures in each of these cities, Town Planning Department director A R Pathrikar told this paper today.

Lack of a uniform policy over illegal constructions coupled with laxity on parts of the development authorities concerned virtually opened flood gates for the illegal development. Worst were the constructions killing hill-top, hill-slope zones, Pathrikar said. There were instances where authorities were forced to alter the development plans converting encroached land plots under reservations into residential zones merely on account of red-tapism, he added.

The draft policy has suggested regularisation of certain unlicensed structures. The logic behind this, Pathrikar said, was possible loss of national wealth by ordering a blanket pulldown. Further, a decision to destroy some thousand unauthorised houses and other illegal structures needed a well-researched thought, Pathrikar felt. The policy therefore has recommended regularising certain structures after payment of fines to the extent of prescribed percentages of the construction costs.

The policy however presses for stern actions for blatant development plan violations. Under no circumstances these constructions be regularised, it says.

A final decision on permitting constructions upto twenty per cent of the available space in hill-top, hill-slope zones is still pending, Pathrikar said. Some 800 individuals recorded their opposition to the proposal, he said adding that a report on suggestions and objections received from the people would soon be presented to the government.