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Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Illegal construction begins at sector 17 collapsed building site, Chandigarh DC orders probe
CHANDIGARH : In what it appears to be a blatant violation of norms, illegal construction has started at a site in Sector 17 which once housed a famous three-bay building that collapsed on Jan 6 all due to gross negligence and violation of safety measures. While the debris of the collapsed building was cleared from the site a few days back, multiple iron columns have now come up at the spot despite the fact that the UT estate office has not approved a revised building plan for the site so far. The estate office has now decided to probe the entire matter. With the said site being completely covered from all sides with huge tin sheds, the iron columns are not visible from the ground level. But these can be clearly seen from upper storeys of nearby buildings. The TOI too captured a clear view of the site and found fresh iron columns installed at the spot, indicating that the work has been going on for the past few days. Nishant Kumar Yadav, deputy commissioner (DC)-cum-estate officer of the Chandigarh administration, said, "No revised building plan for the collapsed building in Sector 17 has been approved till date. In fact, no building plan has been submitted for approval at the estate office. In the absence of the revised building plan, no construction is allowed at the collapsed building site." Sources in the Chandigarh administration revealed that there is a laid-down process and procedure for constructing commercial and residential buildings in Chandigarh. "For commercial buildings, applications for building plans must be submitted to the UT estate office. The Chandigarh administration's technical and administrative staff review the plan at designated stages. Upon successful completion of all steps, the Estate Office issues the building plan, authorising construction in accordance with Estate Rules and regulations." "Additionally, the Chandigarh administration has established a plan approval committee (PAC), consisting of senior technical and administrative officers from various departments, including engineering and architecture. For significant and critical building approval cases, the PAC conducts thorough evaluations, considering all relevant rules and standards before reaching decisions on submitted building plans," sources added. The structural integrity of the building adjacent to the collapsed area appears severely compromised, with visible deterioration evident across various sections of its exterior. A thorough assessment is necessary to determine if installing iron columns at the impacted location would be a feasible solution, given the concerning state of the surrounding structure. Following the collapse, the UT administration had already sent its detailed fact-finding report to Chandigarh Police to probe the matter. Major lapses led to collapse Jan 6 | Just 10 days after it was declared unsafe for occupancy, a three-bay building in Chandigarh's one of most important commercial hubs, Sector 17, collapsed in the early hours on Monday. The structure (SCO 183-185) had been evacuated and sealed off since December 27 after being deemed unsafe. Jan 28 | Almost three weeks after the collapse of a building in Sector 17 on Jan 6, UT Police have filed a case against nine individuals for allegedly making structural modifications which caused the incident. April 20 | UT administration began removing debris from the building that collapsed in Sector 17. The work is supervised by the National Institute of Technical Teachers' Training and Research (NITTTR). April 27 | The fact-finding inquiry report of the UT administration found both the lessee and owner of the building in Sector 17 responsible for its collapse. In his detailed inquiry, the SDM of the Chandigarh administration's central division found that despite knowing that the structural stability certificate had not been procured, they renovated and altered the structure, ignoring the possible risks. The report revealed that no safety measures had been taken even during repair work of the building. Moreover, no revised building plans had been passed by the estate office, and an objection was already placed. However, the lessee and owner ignored this and initiated renovation work.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
150 unauthorised religious structures on govt land, Chandigarh DC orders removal
1 2 3 Chandigarh: More than 150 unauthorised religious structures have encroached govt land. Chandigarh deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav on Thursday directed the removal of all these expeditiously. In compliance with the directives issued by the Supreme Court and Punjab and Haryana high court, a review meeting was held under the chairmanship of the DC on Thursday. The meeting was convened to assess the status of the removal and relocation of unauthorised religious structures erected on public land across the city. The meeting was attended by senior officials from key nodal departments, including the Forest Department, Chandigarh Housing Board, Estate Office, Land Acquisition Office, Municipal Corporation, and UT Engineering Department. The Forest Department identified three unauthorised religious structures on forest land. As of the latest update, none were removed. The Deputy Commissioner directed the Forest Department to initiate immediate action in all cases where no legal impediments exist, ensuring strict adherence to court orders. The Land Acquisition Office identified 16 unauthorised religious structures on acquired land. Of these, acquisition notifications in three cases were quashed by the court, and Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) were filed in two cases before the Supreme Court, whereas the removal process is underway for the remaining structures. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The department was instructed to intensify legal follow-up and expedite removal in all cases where no judicial stay is operative. The Engineering Department identified 58 unauthorised religious structures on land under its jurisdiction, 11 were removed. The removal process for the remaining structures is currently in progress. The Deputy Commissioner directed the department to accelerate the pace of action, particularly in cases where court proceedings do not bar demolition, and to prioritise cases where notices have already been issued. The Municipal Corporation stated that out of 118 identified unauthorised religious structures, 24 were demolished to date. The Deputy Commissioner emphasised the need for vigorous follow-up and timely resolution of all cases that are not under legal stay. The Deputy Commissioner directed that the departments must ensure immediate fencing and securing of reclaimed land to prevent re-encroachment. They must coordinate effectively with the Enforcement Wing of the Estate Office and the Sub-Divisional Magistrates (Central, East, and South) to facilitate removal operations. They have also been directed to submit updated Action Taken Reports (ATRs) to the Deputy Commissioner's Office by the end of this month. Reiterating the seriousness of the issue, the Deputy Commissioner underscored that compliance with judicial directives is mandatory and non-negotiable. Any delays, negligence, or non-compliance will attract strict accountability. All departments have been directed to function in a mission mode, with clearly defined timelines, to ensure that public land in Chandigarh is duly protected and utilised in accordance with its designated purpose. MSID:: 121192972 413 |
Hindustan Times
03-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: Get property status corrected at special two-week camp
The Estate Office will be holding a special two-week camp to address discrepancy in property status on the department website and record available with property allottees/owners. To correct status of properties, which were once resumed but later restored through various court orders, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was framed and several corrections were made by the Estate Office. Hence, all property allottees/owners, which come under the office's jurisdiction, are advised to check the status of their properties through 'Know your property' portal ( and CMIS Chandigarh portal. In case any discrepancy is found, they are requested to submit their application, along with documents to prove their claim, at a special camp being organised at diary section of Deputy Commissioner office/Estate Office from May 5 to May 20. The camp will remain open on Saturday and Sunday as well. All applications received in this camp shall be disposed within 90 days.
Hindustan Times
24-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh admn reclaims ₹250-crore land by razing Sanjay Colony
The Chandigarh administration resolutely reclaimed its prime land worth ₹250 crore after demolishing Sanjay Colony, an illegal slum cluster in Industrial Area, Phase 1, on Wednesday. Driven by its 'Slum-Free City' campaign, the administration, backed by heavy police presence, launched the demolition early in the morning at 7. Within hours, bulldozers flattened thousands of shanties/jhuggies, leaving behind heaps of rubble—and stories of displacement. Most of the colony's occupants had begun removing their belongings before the bulldozers arrived. The prized government land had been illegally occupied by around 5,000 dwellers, living in 1,500-1,800 shanties/jhuggis, as per officials from the UT Estate Office. Armed with eight earthmovers, it took the Estate Office nearly five hours to bring down the slum cluster. Deputy commissioner Nishant Yadav said, 'The colony was built on government land without authorisation. Despite multiple notices, the encroachments continued to expand. The drive was carried out following due legal process. The residents' documents were scrutinised, but none of them was found eligible for rehabilitation. Hence, as per plan, demolitions were undertaken and we were able to reclaim the land. The procedure went smoothly. We have started the procedure to fence the land and the rubble will be cleared soon.' Sanjay Colony cropped up in Industrial Area in 2004. The area was surveyed in 2006 for rehabilitation under the Chandigarh Small Flat Scheme. At the time, 242 dwelling units were found which were taken up for rehabilitation upon fulfilment of other conditions of the scheme. However, over the years, many other illegal occupants encroached upon the government land. The plan to demolish the colony initially started in mid-2022, but after pleas from the residents of Janta Colony, Sector 25-D, and Sanjay Colony, the high court stayed demolition proceedings. The exercise in 2022 was being carried out under a drive of making the city completely slum-free, initiated after the successful demolition of Colony Number 4 at Industrial Area, Phase 1, wherein 2,500 shanties were removed and more than 65-acre land worth ₹2,000 crore was recovered in May 2022. Last week, after the stay was vacated, the administration gave a week's notice to residents of the colony to vacate the land. Despite the scale of displacement, officials said no dweller qualifies for rehabilitation under the central government's Affordable Rental Housing Scheme. According to estate officials, a last-chance documentation camp was held last week, where only around 20 residents submitted their documents. However, all were declared ineligible after scrutiny. Homeless, hopeless: Displaced slum-dwellers brace for life ahead As the bulldozers rolled, the colony dwellers scrambled to collect whatever belongings they could, from furniture to other valuables. Women wept over lost kitchens and elderly residents sat dazed, watching their homes reduced to rubble. Residents said they were given little warning. While notices had been issued in the past, many hoped for a resolution or rehabilitation plan. Instead, they now face an uncertain future, with no immediate shelter. Reena Devi, 36, who lived in Sanjay Colony since 2004, after relocating from Colony Number 4, said, 'We have nowhere to go. I, along with my four children, had gone to my native village in Lucknow, when my neighbours told me that our houses will be demolished. We headed back and when I reached on Wednesday, the drive had already started. All of our valuables are gone and we are now sitting with empty hands and nowhere to go. I work as a cook in a nearby house and my husband is a labourer. With limited income, we can't rent expensive houses in Chandigarh.' A rickshaw puller, Salman, had also been living in Sanjay Colony since 2005, with his family—mother, wife and four kids. 'All documents, including biometrics, were in my mother's name, who died last year. Despite showing all documents to the administration, we were denied housing under the Union government scheme. I have now rented a room in Hallomajra at ₹3,700 per month, but the owners have already asked us to look for other accommodation.' Usha Tewari, another resident of the colony, said, 'I have been living here since 2004, with all documents such as voter identity card, biometrics and others, but was not considered for rehabilitation under the housing scheme. I am working in a nearby shopping mall and with a mere ₹15,000 salary, I cannot afford to rent a house and spend on daily transportation. Administration must provide houses to those residents who have the document proofs.' Janta Colony next on UT's target After Sanjay Colony, the UT administration will now focus on clearing out Janta Colony in Sector 25, which is spread over 10 acres of government land with around 2,500 shanties. After Colony Number 4, it is considered the biggest slum area in the city, estimated to be home to more than 10,000 people. The colony stands on government land worth around ₹350 crore, which has been earmarked for a dispensary, a primary school, a community centre and a shopping area.
