TNS

Gurgaon, October 31
Resentment prevails among the residents over the stance adopted by the Haryana Government against handing over the governance of the local colonies to the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG).

The residents have expressed shock and surprise at the state’s recent move of seeking the implementation of the Punjab Scheduled Roads and Controlled Areas Restrict of Unregulated Development Act, 1963, instead of more relevant and updated Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994.

The Gurgaon Citizens Council (GCC), a body comprising local residents and welfare associations, has maintained that the move smacked of the state authorities’ high-handedness and a nexus with private builders.

“What else can be the logic behind giving the control of private colonies to the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), and not the democratically elected Municipal Corporation,” questioned GCC president RS Rathee.

The council has written a letter to the Haryana Chief Minister, urging him to get the final completion certificates released and handed over the colonies’ administration to the MCG in the larger interest of the residents.

“The view that only the provisions of the 1963 Act can penalise for the violations of building regulations does not hold water. The Municipal Act of 1994 evolved to correct the flaws and inadequacies of the 1963 Act. The Municipal Act has vast regulations to penalise the violators. In fact, the Act includes all relevant provisions of the 1963 Act and many more, including strict penalties, which seem imperative for the systematic development of an urban area,” the letter states.

It further maintains that the contention that implementing the Municipal Act of 1994, and not the older Act of 1963, would lead to haphazard development is also devoid of logic. This implies that all Municipal Corporations of the country should be superseded by government departments.

In an order dated August 23, 2012, Punjab and Haryana High Court had maintained that the Director, Town and Country Planning shall have no jurisdiction to initiate proceedings in the erstwhile controlled area now forming part of municipal area, the council asserted.

It pointed out that on January 6, 2012, the MCG passed a resolution regarding takeover of the licensed colonies within its limits. This proposal was sent to the Director-General, Housing Department. However, despite the said resolution and several reminders thereafter, no decision in this regard has been received from the state government.