Gurugram: Three illegal colonies razed, 15 acres freed in Harsaru

GURUGRAM: Three unauthorised colonies, spread over 15 acres of agricultural land in Harsaru village, were razed by the enforcement team of town and country planning department (DTCP) on Monday. The colonies were at an advanced stage as plotting was done and houses and shops were under construction.

During the drive, the enforcement team demolished six under-construction houses, four shops and 20 other structures with the help of two earthmovers.

District town planner (enforcement) RS Batth told TOI the team faced resistance from investors who said they were trapped by the property dealers, who had assured them that the colony will not get demolished and they’re not aware about the legal status of the plots. The locals also requested the officials to help them get their hard earned money back.

After the demolition drive, assistant town planner Ashish Sharma directed the buyers to share the details of property dealers with the DTCP office, following which strict action will be taken against them.

He further said the builders and property dealers were served show-cause notices in the past, followed by restoration order but they did not furnish satisfactory reply and continued with the construction. “The department then filed police complaint based on which FIR was lodged against them at the Sector 10A police station,” he added.

Batth said two to three demolition drives are being carried out in the city every week to keep a check on the mushrooming of illegal colonies. “There are strict directions from the director to not spare any unauthorised construction in the licenced colonies and illegal colonies on agricultural land in violation of the Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act,” he said.

Batth warned the people on the spot to not fall into the trap of such builders and property dealers who lure them into investing in such illegal colonies.

DTCP director KM Pandurang had recently directed his team not only to file police complaints against the land owners and developers of illegal colonies but also against those behind the planning of such illegal activities.