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The Haryana government’s controversial S+4 floor construction policy has come under scrutiny by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. After the government decided to lift the pause on the policy, the court has now issued a notice to the government, the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), and the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran, demanding their response to a petition challenging the revocation.
The petition, filed by a resident of Sushant Lok, raises concerns about the construction of four-floor buildings with stilt parking in Gurgaon. The petitioner argues that allowing these constructions without adequate infrastructure is detrimental to the overall well-being of the city. The chief justice-led bench of the high court heard the petition and also agreed to hear a stay application that requests a halt to further four-floor construction approvals. The hearing for both the PIL and the stay application has been scheduled for October 23.
The petitioner highlights that initially, the Haryana government set up an expert committee to review the feasibility of four-floor buildings in Gurgaon, which already faces infrastructure challenges. The committee recommended conducting an audit of the city’s infrastructure before allowing additional floor constructions. However, the government reintroduced the four-floor policy on July 2, 2024, without addressing these concerns.
Gurgaon’s infrastructure is already overwhelmed, according to the petition. Issues like overflowing sewage, inadequate waste disposal, poor drainage, and deteriorating roads pose a challenge to the city. The electricity and water supply systems are also strained. If more multi-floor buildings are constructed without infrastructure upgrades, the situation will worsen, potentially turning Gurgaon into an “urban slum.” These concerns have also been raised by the Gurugram Citizens’ Council and another petition.
The petitioner’s legal counsel has urged the court to impose an immediate stay on the state’s July 2 notification, which reopened the approval process for four-floor buildings. They argue that the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) has already been approving new construction plans, disregarding the concerns raised by residents and the expert committee.
The outcome of this litigation will have a significant impact on the S+4 floor policy and future construction in Gurgaon. It remains to be seen how the Haryana government and relevant authorities respond to the court’s notice and address the infrastructure concerns raised. The decision of the court will greatly influence the future development and planning of the city.
