Chandigarh, March 23: Punjab authorities have intensified their campaign against illegal colonies in Mohali, reporting the demolition of 450 unauthorized structures during 35 specialized drives. Chief Secretary KAP Sinha informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the state is now enforcing a strict 24-hour deadline for updating revenue records to maintain the integrity of de-listed agricultural land.
The administrative report clarified that while the Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation will continue to regulate land under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), GMADA will oversee de-listed areas outside local body jurisdictions. This distinction follows an admission by the Chief Secretary that a previous lack of coordination between various departments had hampered the implementation of land-use conditions set by the central government.
To address these systemic gaps, the state has directed each relevant department to depute a nodal officer. These officials, including Sub-Divisional Magistrates and police personnel, are tasked with ensuring that complaints regarding illegal constructions are met with timely responses. The Chief Secretary stated that the Department of Revenue has already updated entries for the de-listed areas and is moving forward with the demarcation of remaining boundaries between forest and agricultural land.
The crackdown has led to significant legal repercussions for developers, with 59 violators already facing FIRs. The affidavit noted that the Department of Local Bodies and GMADA have been instructed to pursue further legal measures within their respective boundaries. “The Department of Revenue has updated the revenue entries pertaining to the de-listed area,” the Chief Secretary maintained, adding that regular oversight meetings would prevent future lapses in communication.
The High Court had previously sought a comprehensive report on the scale of unauthorized construction in the region. In response, the state affirmed that the new multi-agency framework, supported by senior legal counsel, would provide the “complete picture” of enforcement previously requested by the bench.
