ADA demolishes illegal structures on Fatehgarh Churian road

The Amritsar Development Authority (ADA) and PUDA conducted a demolition drive in an illegal colony on the Fatehgarh Churian road here on Friday.

On the directions of Chief Administrator of ADA Ankurjit Singh and Additional Chief Administrator Major Amit Sareen and under the guidance of District Town Planner (Regulatory) Gursevak Singh Aulakh, police officials of the Kambo police station along with officials of the regulatory wing of the ADA, they took action against an unauthorised colony being built at Muradpura village on the Fatehgarh Churian road.

The District Town Planner said as per the government instructions to control further development in the new unauthorised colonies being developed, action was taken against a colony, notified under the Papara Act, 1995. The action was taken by issuing an order to stop civil work, as the owners of the unauthorised colony did not comply with the norms. The reply given by the coloniser pertaining to the department’s notice was found unsatisfactory.

Apart from this, a notice was issued under the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995, for the construction of an unauthorised hotel at Pandori Warraich village on the Majitha Road. Officials stated that after finding the construction activity underway despite the notice, the competent authority, according to the Act, issued orders to demolish the construction. However, due to the shuttering of the lantern of the second floor which may cause an accident, notice was given regarding demolition and it was also clarified that if the building is not demolished by the builder at his own level, then the construction is demolished by the regulatory wing as per the orders of the competent authority.

Officials clarified that as per the 2024 amendment of the Papara Act, 1995, a person who carves out an unauthorised colony is liable to be punished with imprisonment of five to 10 years and a fine of Rs 25 lakh to Rs 5 crore could also be levied.