Chandigarh, March 23: The Punjab government has admitted to coordination hurdles among various departments while executing a large-scale crackdown on unauthorized constructions in Mohali. In an affidavit submitted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chief Secretary KAP Sinha stated that 35 separate demolition drives conducted over the last six months resulted in the removal of approximately 450 illegal structures across the district.
The submission followed recent court criticism regarding the lack of a clear overview of illegal developments, particularly in areas like Siswan. The Chief Secretary declared that the involvement of multiple agencies had previously led to a lack of coordination in implementing central government conditions for de-notified land. To resolve these friction points, the state has now mandated the appointment of nodal officers from the police, revenue, and engineering departments to streamline enforcement.
Legal action has intensified alongside the physical demolitions, with authorities identifying 193 violators and registering 17 FIRs against 59 individuals. The Chief Secretary affirmed that the Regulatory Branch and the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) are leading the field operations. Furthermore, the Department of Revenue has been ordered to ensure that all entries pertaining to de-listed land are updated within a 24-hour window to prevent further unauthorized activity.
“In the last six and a half months, 35 demolitions drives have been undertaken by the Regulatory Branch and GMADA,” the Chief Secretary asserted in the document. He maintained that fortnightly meetings will now be held under the supervision of GMADA to ensure that all departments act in unison. The court was also informed that specific demolition notices have already been served to 25 structures located within the New Chandigarh Master Plan area.
