Authorities mull action against illegal farmhouses

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, March 3

The authorities are contemplating action against nearly 150 illegal farmhouses located near the Surajkund road in the district next week.

Sources said the Municipal Corporation (MC) had constituted five teams of senior officials to conduct a survey of all such constructions, including farmhouses and banquet halls, which had come up illegally in the forest area of Surajkund. The authorities had scheduled to carry out a demolition drive on or before February 28, but the transfer of Parth Gupta, Additional Commissioner, MC, and Holi festival break had delayed the action.

Admitting that the transfer of the official has affected the move, Mohammed Shayin, Commissioner, MC, said that Gupta was supposed to head the team. The next move would be planned shortly, he added.

A large number of farmhouses and marriage gardens have been carved out in the Surajkund area by the land mafia in contravention of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) or the NGT guidelines, it is revealed. Several such structures have been carved out on more than 40 acres of land in the neighbourhood of Anangpur village located in the Aravalli belt here.

The move against the illegal constructions had gained momentum after a flying squad from the CM Office had carried out a surprise check in the area last month. At least 15 persons, including a kin of the ruling party activist, had been booked on charges of illegal cutting of the trees in the area.