An emergency meeting was held at the Municipal Corporation (MC) headquarters to address the issue of illegal construction in the city. Mayor Amarjeet Singh Sidhu, MC commissioner T Benith, and senior officials from the building branch and fire department participated in the meeting. They discussed unauthorised constructions and the risks posed by these buildings.
The survey revealed illegal structures in six villages—Sohana, Kumbra, Mataur, Shahi Majra, Madanpur, and Mohali village. These structures include buildings constructed both within and outside the designated red zones. The mayor instructed officials to take strict action against such violations.
The fire department has been directed to inspect fire safety equipment in all village buildings. This step is essential to prevent potential fire incidents, which could lead to severe damage. Meanwhile, the engineering department is assessing the structural stability of buildings in red zones. Any structurally compromised building will face appropriate action based on the report, an official said.
The civic body will issue notices to owners of buildings that exceed the height limit, asking them to rectify the violations. If the owners fail to comply, the Mohali MC will take corrective action and recover the expenses from the violators. The mayor emphasised that those breaching regulations would face strict penalties.
Construction of unauthorised buildings without approved plans has reportedly stopped following the ongoing survey. However, the municipal corporation aims to ensure all existing violations are addressed immediately to prevent any mishap in the future.
The recent building collapse in Sohana has highlighted the dangers of unauthorised construction. The Mohali civic body's measures are expected to improve safety and enforce compliance with regulations in the surveyed villages.
