File detailed survey report on under-construction buildings, HC tells PMC

Patna,(BiharTimes): In a significant order the division bench of Justice Navin Sinha and Justice Vikash Jain of Patna High Court on Tuesday directed the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC), the Patna district magistrate and the registrar of Co-operative Society, Patna, to file a detailed survey report on under-construction buildings along roads less than 20ft wide and non-residential constructions on residential plots.

The HC order was passed while hearing on a PIL filed by Narendra Mishra seeking immediate halt on illegal mushrooming of high-rise buildings in the state capital.

The Court appeared dissatisfied with the counter-affidavits filed by the PMC in the PIL. It observed that the notices served by the PMC to the 771 under-construction buildings on roads more than 20ft wide did not come under the purview of the PIL, but it permitted the civic body to complete its proceedings in this regard under the legal framework.

Asking the PMC to scrutinise the 449 under-construction buildings which were found violating the building bylaws, the bench observed that the review of the buildings should be done after giving prior intimation to the builder concerned.

The court also observed that the encroachment of the road should also be taken into consideration while measuring the actual width of the road.