Architects not happy with Estate Office functioning

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 27

Not satisfied with the functioning of the Estate Office, architects of the city have alleged that building plans submitted four to five years ago have not been given approval till date.

Narrating their tale of woe at a press conference here today, the architects alleged that officials were dilly-dallying their building plans on one pretext or the other.

Pooja Sharma, a resident of Sector 34, said in October 2015, she submitted documents to get the share transferred of a property. To obtain occupation certificate, she submitted drawings of the building and the completion certificate. After nearly a year, an official came for the inspection of the house. After checking, he then asked them to get the additional construction removed. When they removed the extra construction, the official then said the building plans of the second floor were not approved. The work, which could have been done in a span of short period, was still lying with the department for approval.

Umesh Batra, another architect, said he had submitted a building plan on April 23, 2014, but was yet to get the approval.

Structural engineer Tarun Mathur said he had submitted drawings with the department on June 20, 2017. In December 2019, he was asked to submit a fee for the release of the plan. But after five days, he was told to deposit the fee at the revised rates. Under the revised rates, he was to deposit Rs90 lakh instead of Rs6 lakh.

Other architects also narrated their experiences with the department. Former nominated councillor and architect Pallav Mukkerjee and Naveen Manglani, chairman of the Chamber of Chandigarh Industries, were also present on the occasion.