After HC stay on stilt-plus-four (S+4), town planning asks HSVP how infra funds were used

After HC stay on stilt-plus-four (S+4), town planning asks HSVP how infra funds were used

Following the HC stay on S+4, town planning requests HSVP how the infra funds were utilized.

Gurgaon: As Haryana has stalled all approvals of stilt-plus-four (S+4) residential construction pending on an interim stay by Punjab and Haryana high court, the department of town and country planning (DTCP) has sought a utilisation report of Haryana of the Rs 689 crore it had handed over to the development agency to carry out the upgrades.

The sum, which was placed under the PDR (proportionate development charges) account, was to finance urban infrastructure improvements which were related to density. Pressure on infrastructure is one of the major concerns of the S+4 policy that petitioners have voiced in high court.

A top DTCP official has requested the HSVP to provide information in details regarding how the development charges that have been raised to facilitate infrastructure augmentation have been spent, which will aid in determining the current situation and future action.

The April 3 order by DTCP applies to residential plotted projects within Haryana, including Gurgaon which is densely populated; a region where the policy had contributed to an alarming increase in construction works. The town and country planning director Chander Shekhar Khare, posted the letter to the HSVP chief administrator, director general (housing for all), urban local bodies dire; and HSIIDC managing director.

HC had stayed the running of the July 24, 2024 notification, and restrained the implementation of the S 4 floor policy by Haryana govt.

The official stated that the department has written letters to all the authorities involved telling them to suspend approvals at the stilt-plus-four floors immediately, and that further directions will be done in this regard, and steps will be taken accordingly.

The department also said that no layouts, zoning plans or service plans were to be granted that included enhanced density which was associated with S+4 floors. It also dictated that online applications should cease to accept applications of such permissions through online platforms such as the S+4 portal and HOBPAS (Haryana Online Building Plan Approval System).

HC noted that the growth of the number of floors without corresponding upgrades to the civic services may cause an extra burden to already overstretched urban systems, such as sewage systems, drainage, traffic circulation and other vital services.

The same concerns were expressed by the April 3 communication issued by DTCP, which stated that such cities like Gurgaon are already experiencing the problem of infrastructure stress due to the increasing population density and that the uncontrolled growth in vertical development may cause the waterlogging of low-lying places, traffic jams, and the increased burden on the sewage treatment plant.

The department also reported that HSVP has not provided a status report of how the funds were expended, although it has received previous correspondence. Upon being contacted by TOI, HSVP officials indicated that a detailed response, including formulation of SOPs and use of funds would be provided soon.

Officials said lack of clarity over the use of these funds has deepened concerns about whether sufficient infrastructure upgrades were carried out to support the S+4 policy. Earlier the department had been pursuing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and specific plans of infrastructure augmentation, which are yet to be implemented.

The intervention of the high court, according to the urban planners, may have significant effect on the real estate activity in Gurgaon and other cities that are undergoing rapid urbanisation. The S+4 policy had permitted more independent floors on plotted land and this had led to a drastic increase in builder floors and an increase in the supply of housing. At this point, it is uncertain which activities should take place. Authorities are instructed to be very strict in following the directions of the court till further notice, which in effect has frozen any new approvals in the policy and has put the existing approvals under review.

News Source : Times of India

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