The Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) in Gurugram has conducted sealing drives against unauthorized construction and illegal commercial activities in licensed colonies, recovering a total of Rs 1 crore in penalties and bank guarantees from violators. Around Rs 50 lakh was collected through penalties and bank guarantees for de-sealing buildings closed citing various violations. Additionally, approximately Rs 50 lakh was collected by granting permissions to property owners for running non-nuisance commercial activities. The DTCP has issued permits for various non-nuisance activities, including those by lawyers, doctors, tax consultants, and architects, and collected revenue of around Rs 59 lakh from these permits.
The Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) in Gurugram has successfully recovered Rs 1 crore from individuals and entities who were in violation of regulations during sealing drives. This substantial sum was obtained through a combination of penalties and granting of permits.
The penalties and bank guarantees, totalling around Rs 50 lakh, were levied on those whose buildings had been sealed due to various infringements. Simultaneously, another Rs 50 lakh was accrued by granting property owners the necessary permissions to restart non-nuisance activities after their buildings were initially sealed due to illegal commercial operations.
The Non-Nuisance Rules allow for certain approved activities that may occupy 25% of the ground floor's built-up area in residential houses. These permitted activities encompass services offered by professionals such as lawyers, doctors, tax consultants, architects (without studio), contractor consultants, chartered accountants, company secretaries, property consultants, and tourist guides. The DTCP also extended permissions to 100 property owners who had been conducting commercial activities without the required authorizations from competent authorities.
Following the sealing drive, the DTCP received information from its field staff indicating that several property owners had de-sealed their buildings without obtaining permission, while others had adhered to the stipulated norms and were thus eligible for de-sealing.
The District Town Planner, Manish Yadav, noted that the DTCP has taken measures to seize the bank guarantees of the buildings re-sealed without permission, in accordance with regulations. Notably, 10 buildings have been de-sealed in compliance with the rules. This action has resulted in bank guarantees worth Rs 27 lakh and penalties amounting to Rs 16 lakh being deposited with the department. The DTCP is now in the process of contacting the relevant banks to encash these guarantees.
Additionally, the DTCP has amassed Rs 59 lakh by granting permits to 100 property owners to operate non-nuisance activities. A significant portion of these permissions was issued after the initiation of the sealing drive, indicating that the fear of sealing has prompted property owners to seek the required authorizations. These permits have been issued within 17 licensed colonies.
The 100 permissions granted cover a range of activities, including 36 property offices, 45 doctor consultation clinics, seven lawyers’ offices, five architectural practices, four chartered accountant firms, one company secretary office, one contracting business, and one electrical services operation.
These permissions have a duration of five years and for this the operators are required to submit a fee of Rs 60,000 to the DTCP. This sealing drive by the DTCP was a key element in promoting adherence to regulations and will ensure responsible commercial activities in the region.
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