GLADA recently razed 5 out of 114 unauthorised colonies

Ludhiana, April 11
Colonisers and developers have joined hands to seek their political masters’ support, with the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) intensifying its crackdown on unauthorised colonies on the periphery of the city after the expiry of one-month notice period.

Upset over demolition of internal development works in five out of 114 unauthorised colonies, which were put on a month’s notice by GLADA on March 1 earlier this week, the Ludhiana Property Dealers’ and Colonisers’ Association has raised a hue and cry that the regulatory action was against what the ruling SAD-BJP coalition had promised in its election manifesto.

Besides taking up the matter with the state government at an appropriate level, the colonisers said they would submit a memorandum to the chief administrator of GLADA tomorrow for seeking an immediate halt to the demolition drive.

If the proliferation of unauthorised colonies in and around the city and total failure of the developers of such colonies to go for compounding on payment of stipulated licence fee and external development charges (EDCs) on the basis of total area of the colony as per the policy formulated by the government for this purpose is any indication, it is easy to gauge that the unscrupulous colonisers and property developers want the regulatory body to close its eyes towards their unlawful activities and give them a free hand to loot the gullible buyers by passing off plots in unlicensed colonies without making adequate provisions for internal and external development and basic amenities.

That the developers of unlicenced (and unauthorised) colonies, especially those who have some connections with the ruling alliance, have chosen to seek shelter under the wings of politicians is also not strange since it is no secret that most of the unauthorised colonies are developed under the patronage of politicians. “It is a matter of record that politicians of all hues put pressure on us as and when we launch a drive against unauthorised colonies or carry out demolitions,” confided an official of the field staff of GLADA.

Additional Chief Administrator of GLADA Jaswant Singh said regulatory actions being taken against unlicenced developer was strictly as per the policy of the government and laid down standard procedures. “Our brief is very clear, we have to implement the policies of the government in letter and spirit and action initiated to check unplanned and unregulated growth will continue in a relentless manner.”