CHANDIGARH, June 3: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered status quo on the construction of a sewage treatment plant (STP) in Zirakpur’s heavily populated Sanauli-Kishanpura belt, following allegations that the project violates the notified Master Plan and bypasses statutory public consultation requirements.
The interim order was passed by a Bench of Justice Namit Kumar and Justice Manisha Batra while hearing a writ petition filed by the Lakeview Complex Residents Welfare Association and others. The petition seeks a stay on construction activities by the Zirakpur Municipal Council until legal procedures are followed.
Appearing for the petitioners, advocate Munish Jolly contended that the STP is being constructed on residentially designated land without prior approval from the competent authority, in violation of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995.
Jolly told the court that the construction is taking place adjacent to a school with 700 students and in a densely inhabited locality of nearly 20,000 people. “No environmental impact assessment was done, nor were objections invited from affected residents — which is mandatory before a land use change of this scale,” he argued.
The petition also mentioned that two alternate sites had already been earmarked for utilities, including an STP, under the officially notified Master Plan. These sites, identified through expert surveys, were made public during the plan’s drafting process.
“The reason for not applying for an amendment to the Master Plan is not far to seek, as two sites have already been notified for such utility purposes,” the petition stated. It further alleged that selecting a residential zone for the project without statutory backing was arbitrary and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution.
Taking note of the submissions, the court issued notice of motion and ordered all parties to maintain status quo on the construction. The matter is next listed for hearing on August 28.
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