Builders of illegal colonies have to pay demolition cost: DTCP

GURUGRAM: In a move to check mushrooming of illegal colonies and impose stricter penalties on builders, the department of town and country planning (DTCP) has issued recovery notices to 74 builders to recover cost incurred in demolition drives against these colonies.

The notices, amounting to Rs 15 lakh, were served under section 10(3) of Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act 1975. Officials said that in case builders fail to deposit the fine, the amount will be recovered as arrears of land revenue.

District town planner (enforcement) RS Batth said these developers, who carved out illegal colonies and structures, have duped several innocent homebuyers and investors.

In the last four months, the enforcement wing razed several structures in around 74 illegal colonies. The department incurred cost on earthmovers, videography, manpower, vehicles and others during the demolition drive, Batth said.

He said the office of director DTCP has issued strict directions to the enforcement team to focus on recovering the cost incurred in demolition drives. Another official said the notices will be issued to developers of all colonies, which have been demolished in the last one and half years and recovery will be made from them.

These developers carved out illegal colonies on agricultural land without any permission from the concerned department, which is a violation of Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act, 1975.