DTCP not to give fresh approval to any building near Najafgarh lake

GURUGRAM: The department of town and country planning (DTCP) has decided to not give any fresh approval to any builder or individual to develop buildings near the Najafgarh lake.

This decision was taken after DTCP and Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) reviewed the situation in some of the residential projects in the new sectors following complaints of seepage and flooding of basements.

Director of town and country planning KM Pandurang told TOI that these areas fall under catchment of Najafgarh lake, therefore the groundwater level in these area is high.

“This is the reason behind the flooding of basements and dampness in the projects. After consultations with the GMDA officials, the department has decided not to issue any fresh licences in these areas,” Pandurang said.

According to residents in sectors 107, 108, 109 and others along Dwarka expressway, the deficiencies in the projects include leakage and seepage in basements, non-utilisation of basements due to water accumulation, improper functioning of sewerage treatment plants and poor construction quality.

District town planner RS Batth said the department has directed these developers, from where complaints have been received, to share action taken report based on measures taken by them to address these issues. “We have also directed Atharva project in Sector 109 to address the deficiencies at the earliest,” he added.

“These action taken reports should be accompanied by documentary proofs and also future course of action for addressing them along with a timeline,” he said.

Meanwhile, sources within the DTCP said that most of the licences in these sectors were issued between 2004 and 2014 but there was no water in the area.

Not just Najafgarh area, areas around Ghata bundh are also facing similar threat. As per a study conducted by GMDA last year, it observed that many highrise residential buildings developed in sectors 58 to 64 are at the risk of flooding during rains.