HC seeks report from PMC on implementation of ban on high-rise buildings

Patna,(BiharTimes): A division bench of Justice Navin Sinha and Justice Vikash Jain of Patna High Court on Monday directed the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) to file a detailed report-cum-affidavit within a week on its order stopping construction of multi-storied buildings beyond permissible height. 

Observing that it would not allow the officials of the civic body to derive personal gains in the garb of its orders, the bench asked PMC if it followed the required procedures, as per the bylaws, after staying construction of the buildings under its Kankarbagh and Bankipur divisions. 

As reported the court had earlier ordered the PMC to stop constructions of buildings beyond the permissible height or on roads less than 20 feet wide.

The Corporation sought permission from the bench for demolishing all those buildings whose construction has been stopped. 

However, the judges observed that the court could not consider only the point of PMC as those who invested their hard-earned money in search of home and might have taken loan too are under court’s consideration. 

The lawyer of PMC informed the court that the Corporation has issued notices to 771 persons and stopped 449 constructions. In New Capital Division, construction of 353 buildings has been stopped while notices have been issued to 606 builders. Under Bankipur Division, construction of 51 buildings has been stopped and notices issued to 54 builders, while under Kankarbagh Division notices ave been issued to 53 builders and construction of 21 buildings has been stopped. 

Similarly, under Patna City division, notices were issued to 58 builders while construction of 24 buildings was stopped,  the PMC counsel said.

The court directed the chief secretary, PMC commissioner and secretary of the urban development department to be present in the court onSeptember 2.