S+4 policy: Houses damaged, fighting court cases for relief, say Panchkula residents

Ravneet Singh

Panchkula, July 20

Residents affected by stilt-plus-four (S+4) construction in their neighbourhood have expressed their displeasure over the state government giving the go-ahead to the policy allowing such constructions. They said they were contesting court cases to get compensation for the damage caused to their units due to such constructions carried out in the past. Many residents have lodged complaints with the HSVP and the state government, but to no avail.

BS Bhandari, 90, a resident of Sector 6, said he had even received death threats over his contentions against stilt-plus-four construction carried out by his neighbour. He said, “My neighbour did not seek permission from the HSVP for construction. Orders were issued to demolish the construction, but he moved Punjab and Haryana High Court against the orders. The case is pending for the past 10 years. My house has suffered much damage due to the construction.”

Sheesham Bala, a resident of Sector 16, said, “A total of 17 walls of my house were damaged due to S+4 construction by my neighbour. The HSVP appointed a structural engineer and directed reconstruction of various walls, but issued estimates for reconstruction of only 11 at a cost of Rs 3.48 lakh only. Meanwhile, my neighbour was able to occupy his house. I had to file an appeal in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which is yet to be decided.”

HM Kapoor, the owner of a house in Sector 11, said he had written complaints to the HSVP over damage caused to his house due to S+4 construction by his neighbour in 2022 and 2023. “The construction in 2020 had led to development of cracks in our common wall and the floor of my house. The doors and windows of my house tilted and we have been living in fear. The builder applied temporary plaster on the walls, but to no avail.”

Jawahar Lal Nanda, who owns a house in Sector 16, said they had been raising concern over S+4 constructions for the past six years. He said, “I had lodged a complaint against illegal and dangerous construction by neighbour in 2020. It damaged my house and its foundation. The matter has since been pending at the level of the state government. It is only transferred from one official to the other as per the status report on CM Window.”

He said over 200 houses had been affected due to such constructions in the city alone. “The new decision to allow the practice is against the democratic nature of the government which has ignored people’s plight,” he added.