MOHALI: Residents of several villagers in Mohali have threatened a massive protest if building bylaws notices are not revoked. A delegation submitted a memorandum to the mayor and MC commissioner on Thursday.
The Mohali municipal corporation had issued notices regarding building regulations to residents of several villages, including Mohali, Sohana, Kumbra, Mator, Shahi Majra and Madanpur, under the newly implemented building bylaws. This move sparked strong opposition from villagers, demanding cancellation of these notices.
Led by Shiromani Akali Dal’s senior leader Parvinder Singh Sohana, a delegation submitted a memorandum to Mohali mayor Amarjit Singh Jeeti Sidhu and municipal commissioner T Benith, urging withdrawal of these notices. Additionally, similar memorandums were sent to the Punjab chief minister and chief secretary. The delegation also requested the inclusion of a resolution on this matter in the upcoming MC meeting.
According to villagers, these villages have existed for centuries, and most houses were constructed before the villages were brought under the MC’s jurisdiction. However, the MC did not formulate any specific building scheme under Section 275 of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, making the issuance of these notices unlawful, they claimed.
Parvinder Sohana said urban building regulations should not be imposed on villages. He pointed out that village roads and streets are not wide enough to accommodate restrictions related to leaving space in front and back of buildings. He further argued that most families in villages live in joint households with multiple generations residing under one roof. The reduction in height limits for buildings would severely impact such families. He also highlighted that village plots are not systematically planned, making it unfair to enforce urban rules on them.
Moreover, Sohana criticised the MC for failing to provide basic amenities in villages, such as parks, playgrounds, sanitation, and adequate water supply. He noted that villages still lack proper hospitals and dispensaries, making life difficult for residents.
Sohana demanded immediate cancellation of these notices, calling them illegal. He urged the MC to develop a special building scheme under Section 275, which aligns with the ground realities of villages. He also stressed that urban regulations should not be applied to villages unless a proper scheme is in place.
Issuing a strong warning, Sohana stated that if these notices are not withdrawn immediately, a large-scale protest will be organised, and the MC and Punjab govt will be held responsible.
