For the past 20 days, a Nagar Council officer, instead of attending office, has been preoccupied with Panchayat elections, leaving the city vulnerable to illegal construction. With the officer’s absence, illegal builders have become increasingly active, fearlessly carrying out unauthorized construction projects. Despite numerous complaints from concerned citizens, no significant action has been taken against the illegal builders, allowing them to continue their activities unchecked.
One of the most glaring examples of this issue is occurring in Tribune Colony, located in Baltana. The Nagar Council has approved building plans for only one and a half floors in this area, but builders have already constructed three floors and are continuing to build additional stories. Despite these clear violations of building regulations, the city council has failed to take decisive action against the builders. Local residents have reported the illegal construction to the council several times, but no meaningful steps have been taken to halt the work.
The residents are questioning why the council’s enforcement team failed to stop the work permanently or confiscate the construction materials.
While the Nagar Council’s team visited the site last Wednesday in response to complaints, they only temporarily stopped the construction. As soon as the officials left, the builders resumed their work. Two days later, when residents complained again, the team returned to the site, took the builder’s mobile number, and left without stopping the construction. This response has raised serious concerns among the public about the effectiveness and intent of the Nagar Council in curbing illegal construction. The residents are questioning why the council’s enforcement team failed to stop the work permanently or confiscate the construction materials. Many believe that the builders are being given ample opportunities to complete their illegal work under the council’s watch. The community suspects a deeper collusion between the illegal builders and the Nagar Council officials, specifically the encroachment team.
One of the key issues raised by local residents is the failure of the encroachment team to log their visits in the movement register, which is a standard procedure for ensuring accountability. Despite clear instructions from the Deputy Commissioner of Mohali that all field duties must be logged in the movement register, no such entries are being made in Zirakpur. This practice allows the council to avoid scrutiny from higher authorities and conceal their inaction.
Puneet Singla, the DM of the Municipal Council Zirakpur, acknowledged the illegal construction in Tribune Colony, stating that the work had exceeded the approved building plan.
He mentioned that the council had already stopped the work twice within the past week and that a report had been submitted to the building inspector for further action. However, residents remain skeptical, questioning whether issuing a notice is the council’s only method of addressing illegal construction.
The community is frustrated by the lack of concrete action from the Nagar Council. Despite repeated visits to the site, the illegal builder has continued to work, seemingly unaffected by the council’s attempts to intervene. This has led many to wonder whether issuing notices is the council’s strongest response to illegal construction, and if so, whether it is enough to deter future violations.
If the Nagar Council fails to take stronger measures beyond issuing notices, illegal construction will likely continue to flourish in Zirakpur. The residents of Tribune Colony and other affected areas are calling for more effective enforcement, including confiscation of materials and strict penalties for builders who violate the city’s bylaws. Without these steps, the illegal construction activities will only escalate, undermining the integrity of the city’s planning and development regulations.
