Stilt-plus-four policy: Architects, RWAs seek upgrade of civic infra

Bijendra Ahlawat

Faridabad, July 6

With over 400 applications pending with the architects here regarding the approval of the plans of the proposed stilt-plus-four floor buildings, the Haryana Chapter of Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) and the RWAs have expressed concern over the alleged loopholes and the approval of the draft policy without taking them into confidence. Such constructions had been banned last year in the wake of protests.

As several hundred applications are in the pipeline for seeking approval for such structures in the city, the architects, who had been authorised or had the authority of submitting the applications online, have also raised their voice over the matter claiming that the draft policy announced recently needs certain amendments and a guarantee to ensure a robust civic infrastructure to deal with the problems faced by the residents due to the construction of stilt-plus-four floors in the city.

Nirmal Makhija, Chairman, Faridabad centre of the IIA, and Convener, Government Interface Committee, IIA, Haryana Chapter, said that some amendments might be required in the draft policy before it becomes effective. He said the government would have to address the issue of basic civic amenities like roads, water, sewage, parking and pollution as these have emerged as a cause for concern already.

He said while there is a need to increase the ‘setback’ area of the buildings, a representative of IIA is a must in the committees looking into the grievances and the issue of the construction of such buildings in the state. He said the technical and professional expertise of architects and civil engineers could help resolve disputes or objections regarding the policy.

“The present form of the policy faces the same issues and resentment which had surfaced in the past as the infrastructure in the majority of the colonies or sectors is inadequate,” said Sumer Khatri, a representative of one of the RWAs in Sector 85. While demanding that the condition of 10m wide road for such buildings be revised to 12m, he said it should not be made applicable in existing sectors and colonies.

KC Hooda of the Sector 75-RWA said the amendment to allow stilt-plus-four buildings seems to have been made in a hasty manner perhaps to benefit the builder lobby. He said the RWAs’ suggestions regarding the matter had been ignored and thus, the amendments or revised order was unacceptable in the present form.

Amit Madholia, DTP, said that the office has no details about the stilt-plus-four floor buildings and had no role in submission or approval of their plans.

Framework inadequate

The present form of the policy faces the same issues and resentment which had surfaced in the past as the infrastructure in the majority of the colonies or sectors is inadequate. — Sumer Khatri, rwa representative in sector 85