Keep illegal colonies in Gurugram in check by cutting power, Discom told

To prevent mushrooming of illegal colonies in the city, the enforcement wing of department of town and country planning (DTCP) is relying on a new strategy — they immediately share information about any illegal structure with the electricity department and stop issuance of a power connection.

As per the DTCP officials, it has been observed that wherever there has been a delay in issuance of power connections or where new power connections are not issued at all, there is a substantial decline in growth of unauthorised colonies.

While interacting with mediapersons on Monday, district town planner (enforcement wing) Ved Prakash said this strategy has helped them curb building of illegal houses in unauthorized colonies of the district.

“We have also asked the revenue department and district administration to ensure that transfer of plots or sale in these colonies does not happen. Also, efforts are being made to ensure that water supply and sewage is not allowed in these colonies,” he said.

In the last six months, the department has carried out 68 demolition drives out of the 71 it had planned. An area of 224 acres on which illegal colonies were coming in the outskirts of Gurugram, including Sohna, Farrukhnagar, Kankrola, Bhangrola and other areas, have also been cleared.

“We have taken action against 56 colonies that were coming up in this land and legal proceedings have also been started against the violators, who were carving out colonies without licence,” Prakash said.

However, when asked why there have been reports of properties being registered despite being in unauthorised areas, the DTP said they have repeatedly written to the revenue department to prevent this.

“We will again raise the matter in the next task force meeting,” he said, adding the department will also pursue the matter of disconnection of water, power and sewage to EWS plots where illegal construction was made in violation of rules.