Rohtak: Permit S+4 only in upcoming sectors, say residents
Sunit Dhawan
Rohtak, July 5
A large number of stilt-plus-four (S+4) floor buildings have come up in Rohtak city, including the HSVP sectors, in the recent past, causing multifarious problems to the residents of the adjacent houses. As per the District Town Planner, permissions to construct 322 stilt-plus-four floor buildings in the Deen Dayal Jan Awas Yojana (DDJAY)-licensed colonies have been given, while such permissions have been granted by the local Municipal Corporation and HSVP authorities in the areas under their respective jurisdictions. However, sources in the construction business maintain that the number of such buildings is actually much higher. A number of stilt-plus-four floor houses can be seen in Jagdish Colony, DLF Colony, Jhang Colony, Prem Nagar, Model Town, HSVP sectors as well as private sectors. As per local sources, hundreds of residents of the city have been affected by the construction of these buildings along their houses.
Walls have developed cracks in Rohtak
More than 500 residents of HSVP sectors in Rohtak have been affected by buildings having stilt-plus-four floors. The walls of their houses have developed cracks and may collapse. These buildings also block sunlight and air for the residents of the adjacent houses. —Kadam Ahlawat, Executive member, All-hry huda sectors confederation
“More than 500 residents of HSVP sectors in Rohtak have been affected by buildings having stilt-plus-four floors. The walls of their houses have developed cracks and may collapse. These buildings also block sunlight and air for the residents of the adjacent houses,” said Kadam Singh Ahlawat, an executive member of the All-Haryana HUDA Sectors Confederation. However, most of the affected residents prefer to get their houses repaired by themselves or with the help of financial assistance received from the owners of the stilt-plus-four floor buildings instead of making complaints to the authorities concerned. Nonetheless, those residents who have made complaints to the authorities concerned lament that no concrete action has been taken on their complaints for years. “The disposal rate of such complaints is dismal. The owners of such buildings are usually issued notices, but no plausible action after that. The authorities concerned don’t even bother to reply to the applications moved under the RTI Act,” lamented Ranbir Singh Phougat, a complainant from Sector 2.
Meanwhile, representatives of residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) are holding meetings to discuss the new provisions of the recent permission and chalk out their future course of action. “We will convene a meeting of all HSVP and private sectors of Rohtak soon to assess the situation and decide our next course of action,” said Ramesh Ahlawat, vice-president, RWA-Sector 34, and treasurer of All Sectors Association, Rohtak. Pointing out that the construction and inhabitation of stilt-plus-four floor buildings would put undue pressure on the already crumbling civic infrastructure of the old sectors, Ahlawat said they would urge the state authorities and private builders not to allow the construction of such buildings in the existing sectors. “Such buildings should be allowed in the upcoming sectors only,” he asserted.
Pawan Ahuja, president, RWA-Sector 1, Rohtak, said the matter would be discussed with the association members and then a decision would be made regarding the matter. “However, I believe the decision to allow the construction of stilt-plus-four floor buildings only after obtaining consent from the owners of the adjacent buildings or maintenance of a gap of 1.8 metres (side setback) from the adjoining plots on both sides would resolve most of the issues with the neighbours,” said Ahuja.
On the other hand, social activists pursuing the matter said the fresh permission granted for the construction of stilt-plus-four floor houses indicates that the state authorities are under the influence of the builders’ lobby.
