Illegal buildings galore, invite mishaps

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 24

With the authorities concerned apparently turning a blind eye towards violators, the construction of high-rise illegal buildings is rampant across the city.

Illegal buildings in the old city areas, where even fire tenders can’t enter due to narrow streets, are an open invitation to mishaps.

City-based NGOs have been accusing officials of the Municipal Corporation (MC) and political leaders for backing those, who have violated the building bylaws. Meanwhile, the government is yet to take requisite measures in this regard.

Illegal buildings have come up right under the nose of MC officials in several areas, including Ferozepur Road, Pakhowal Road, Ghumar Mandi, and the old city areas, which includes Dal Bazar, Meena Bazar, Gur Mandi and Madhopuri.

President of the Maha Sabha, an NGO, Col JS Brar said, “The rampant corruption in the MC Building Branch is a major reason behind violations of the building bylaws.”

“The recent fire incident wherein several persons lost lives has raised questions over the role of authorities, who kept ignoring violations in the city,” he said. “The responsibilities of officials concerned should be fixed and the guilty should not go unpunished,” he added.

Kuldeep Singh Khaira of the Vigilant Citizens’ Forum said, “It has been seen that several violators also use their political connections to avoid action against them,” he added.

Sanjay Goel, chairman of the Indian Institutes of Architects, Punjab chapter, said, “Several buildings in the city are illegal. These have been constructed in violation of the building bylaws. The MC should ensure the proper implementation of the building bylaws.”

Notably, Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, during his visit to Ludhiana around six months ago, had admitted that several buildings being constructed were violating the norms.