DTCP to be restructured to prevent encroachment in Aravalis

The Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) is to be restructured to create a new wing dedicated to preventing encroachments in the Aravalis. Two additional district town planners(DTP) will be appointed into the planning and enforcement wings in Gurgaon, in addition to the two existing DTPs. To aid in follow-ups, the department has created an online database of all show-cause and restoration notices, as well as FIRs related to illegal construction, dating back to 1975. According to officials, Aravali transgressions account for a majority of the anti-encroachment operations in the department, specifically farmhouses that have sprouted all over the protected Aravali foothills due to private land ownerships. KM Pandurang, the director-general of DTCP told the media that the number of district town planners in Gurgaon will also go up from two to four and that their zones will be separated. The new enforcement wing will also monitor the online data of all show-cause and restoration notices, as well as FIRs, as per Pandurang, and pending cases will be resolved. The officers involved will be questioned if the department discovers that no action was taken after issuing notices and registering FIRs, he said. Pandurang praised the Gurgaon team for their success in razing the newly carved out illegal colonies, though he noted that about 20% of the task remains unfinished and needs to be completed more efficiently. The DTCP chief also said that he has directed his officials to spread awareness among people to not invest in illegal colonies and check the status of the same before putting in their hard-earned money. The DTCP chief also mentioned that he has directed his officials to raise awareness among the public about the importance of not investing in illegal colonies and verifying their legal status before investing their hard-earned money. Image Source Also read: SC rules against unauthorised constructions in Aravali forest Also read: Survey of illegal structures in Aravali Forest starts after SC order