News: Implement old zoning policy for four floor buildings in one month: Gurugram builders-09-10-2023
Developers and residential plot owners on Sunday iterated their demand for the state to implement its policy allowing construction of four floors before Diwali to give relief to property owners and homebuyers.
It has been eight months since approvals for new four-floor building plans in residential areas were put on hold by the government after protests by residents who alleged such “builder floors” were straining resources and infrastructure in colonies that were already packed.
Home Developers and Plot Owners’ Association president (GHDPA) president Narendra Yadav said the government-appointed committee led by retired IAS officer P Raghavendra Rao had submitted its report to the chief minister in June, but the state was yet to take a decision on the policy.
Until the state takes its stand, owners of plots are unable to start construction. Neither approving plans for four-floor buildings with stilt parking nor withdrawing the allotments given earlier has left buyers in limbo, Yadav said. He said Gurgaon accounts for a major chunk of the state’s revenue, and much of it was earned from these builder floors.
“Builder floors offer housing needs to people with limited budgets. Due to suspension of the policy, the inventory of floors in the market has almost depleted and it is affecting prospective homebuyers. Despite huge revenue collection, authorities have not yet taken any concrete steps to upgrade infrastructure. We urge the government to immediately issue instructions for doing so,” another association member said on Sunday
Asked about the demand, a senior official of the department of town and country planning (DTCP) said the committee has submitted its report and final response from higher authorities was still awaited.
The policy permitting construction of fourth floors was introduced in 2016, and three years later, registrations to give them independent floor status were allowed. According to government sources, Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) sold more than a thousand plots via e-auction based on floor area ratio (FAR) of four floors with stilt parking in Gurgaon alone.
The expert panel’s report — concluded after consultations with RWAs, developers, government officials and independent experts – had pressed for revision of the Haryana Building Code, 2017. It said there was a need to address ground coverage, FAR and structural safety flaws. The committee also sought a mechanism to curb misuse of stilt areas and parking problems.
A city resident who opposes the policy said on Sunday four-floor buildings have put a burden on civic infrastructure, causing inconvenience to the families who already live within an area and for this reason, “authorities should work on pros and cons before taking a decision on the policy”.
