An expert committee is set to convene on May 16 to review Haryana's contentious fourth-floor policy in residential areas. The panel will deliberate on issues such as structural damages, parking shortages, and environmental implications. While developers push for upgraded infrastructure and policy restoration, residents argue that existing services are already overstretched. The outcome could significantly reshape housing construction and infrastructure development in the state.
The expert committee, formed to scrutinize Haryana's contentious policy permitting stilt plus four-floor constructions on residential plots, is slated to assemble tomorrow. The panel, under the leadership of Chairman P Raghavendra Rao, will gather on May 16 to deliberate on the various issues stemming from the policy, which is currently under suspension.
This meeting will include heads of relevant departments and will primarily focus on the myriad challenges the policy has presented. Among the difficulties to be discussed are structural damage to neighbouring buildings, parking shortages, and environmental implications related to the construction of additional residential floors. Key officials from various departments have been requested to provide an in-depth analysis of problems noted by their respective sectors due to the implementation of the fourth-floor provision.
This policy has been a hot topic since the state government put a halt to approvals for fourth-floor constructions in February, following mass protests by residents' groups. In response to the public outcry, the government formed an expert committee in March to determine the future course of action regarding the suspension of approvals for new four-floor building plans. The panel has been actively collecting suggestions and feedback from residents in its quest to reach a balanced and fair resolution.
Developers, on the other hand, have argued in favour of an upgrade in civic infrastructure and a restoration of the policy in the city. They contend that while there are issues associated with the construction of four-floor buildings, imposing a complete ban is not the solution, given the substantial demand for independent builder floors in the city.
They propose the establishment of comprehensive guidelines addressing a range of issues including construction norms, environmental considerations, and other factors associated with high-rise residential buildings. Since the government allowed the registration of the fourth floor as an independent dwelling unit in 2019, it has collected approximately Rs 1,000 crore in external development charges, according to a memorandum recently submitted by a group of builders to the expert committee.
However, residents from licensed colonies hold a different view. They argue that the existing infrastructure is inadequate to support even the current population, let alone an increase due to additional floors. Since the Haryana government first allowed stilt plus four-floor constructions in 2017, over 20,000 floors have been erected across residential colonies in the city. Still, there has been limited improvement in key infrastructure, such as roads, power supply, sewerage, and drainage systems.
The expert panel's meeting on May 16 is a significant milestone in the ongoing debate over Haryana's fourth-floor residential policy. The outcome could significantly influence the future landscape of housing construction and infrastructure development in the state. This issue remains a key focal point for both developers and residents alike, each party holding distinct views on the policy's impact on the urban environment and quality of life in Haryana.
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