PANCHKULA: Panchkula Citizen Welfare Association is planning to file a public interest litigation in Punjab and Haryana high court against the state government’s policy to allow stilt-plus-four-floor constructions. Besides, it has joined hands with all welfare associations and the victims of this policy.
CWA president S K Nayyar, while chairing a meet at Red Bishop in Sector 1 with all the directly affected residents, said the government is not listening to the sufferers. “We have put in our best efforts by meeting the chief minister, other ministers and officers concerned, but to no avail,” he said.
“We have decided to go to the high court. For this, we are collecting money within our association and appealing to the direct/indirect sufferers to support us so that we can fight this anti-public policy of government together.”
So many people are protesting this policy, and despite taking suggestions and recommendations from the public, the policy has got a go-ahead, he said.
Such act of the government shows that it is under pressure from the builder lobby, CWA members said.
Pramod Hans, a Sector 11 resident, who is fighting to get justice for his damaged three-storey house due to S+4 construction next to his house, alleges that HSVP’s survey team are hand in gloves with the builders and they always assess my damage at Rs 2-3 lakh. However, he says, the actual cost of the damage is above Rs 50 lakh.
“I am the first one in Panchkula whose house got affected by this S+4 structure built next to my house. I have been fighting to get justice for over five years now,” said J L Nanda, resident of Sector 16.
“Me and my wife live alone in our house and our house can fall anytime due to cracks in the wall which occurred due to construction of S+4 house next to my house. My neighbour threatens to kill me. I am the sufferer. I cannot drive due to my age and visit all government offices in a rickshaw daily ,” said 90-year-old B S Bhandari, resident of Sector 6.
CWA members, supported by various welfare associations, also threatened to hold a protest and to give the government a fitting reply in the coming elections.
The stilt-plus-four-floor policy was approved by the Haryana government in 2017 by amending the Haryana Building Code 2017. Registrations of fourth floor as a separate dwelling unit started in 2018. Following protests by RWAs through the state, the government rolled back their decision on February 23, 2023, and constituted a panel to relook the issue and take suggestions from all stakeholders. On July 1, the government approved the new policy allowing the construction of stilt-plus-four floors.
