GLADA colony: House converted into hospital

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, March 21

Known for closing its eyes to blatant violations of building norms and illegal change of land use in most of its colonies, the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) has again been caught on the wrong foot for its failure to take any action against the allottee of a residential house at Urban Estate, Phase I, in Jamalpur, from where a full-fledged hospital is being run by the owner.

In a complaint to GLADA chief administrator and other officials concerned, a resident of Basant Avenue, Dugri, Sukhbir Singh Sekhon, has asserted that as per information provided by the GLADA authorities under the Right to Information Act, the said house/plot was allotted for residential purpose but for the past many years a hospital was being run from its premises.

“Commercial use of a house or plot allotted for residential purpose cannot be used for any other (including commercial/institutional) purpose as per terms and conditions of the allotment/sale letter. Violation of these terms and conditions render the allotted property for cancellation of the allotment as per rules and regulations governing allotment by PUDA/GLADA,” said the complainant.

Citing information provided under the RTI Act by GLADA Public Information Officer-cum-ATP Gagandeep Singh through an affidavit dated March 4, 2021, Sekhon said it was stated by GLADA that the owner of the property (plot no 567) in Urban Estate, Phase I, Jamalpur, was neither issued any NOC for commercial use nor any notice by the authorities. The owner had not obtained any approval for the commercial use of the house.

The complainant said as per his knowledge, the hospital had a domestic electricity connection and also, the user charges (water and sewerage) were also being paid by the consumer on domestic rates, thereby causing a loss of revenue to the government.

Alleging that field staff and officials concerned were well aware of the violations and might be conniving with the house owner, Sekhon urged senior officials to hold a probe into the matter and take action as per law against the violator for the commercial use of the residential property.