Congress MP Surjewala Criticizes Haryana Government's Stilt-Plus-Four Policy Amid Court Stay

Original: Driven by real estate mafia: Cong MP Surjewala on Haryana govt’s stilt-plus-4 policy

Hindustan Times•Apr 4, 20262 min

In a Nutshell

Randeep Singh Surjewala, Congress MP and former Haryana minister, criticized the Haryana government's stilt-plus-four policy after the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed it, citing public safety concerns. He accused the government of prioritizing revenue over infrastructure and called for urgent reforms to address urban issues in cities like Gurugram and Faridabad.

Key Points

01The Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the stilt-plus-four policy due to public safety concerns.
02Randeep Singh Surjewala accused the Haryana government of being influenced by real estate interests.
03Surjewala described the urban situation in Haryana as a 'Herculean urban tragedy'.
04He called for a comprehensive assessment and reform of urban infrastructure.
05Major cities are facing issues like overflowing sewage, broken roads, and air pollution.

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Full Summary

Randeep Singh Surjewala, a Congress MP and former minister in Haryana, criticized the state government's stilt-plus-four policy following a stay issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on April 2. The court highlighted that the policy jeopardized public safety for revenue gain. Surjewala described the situation as a 'Herculean urban tragedy', attributing the policy's flaws to the influence of property dealers and the real estate mafia. He pointed out that cities like Gurugram, Faridabad, and Panchkula are suffering from deteriorating civic systems, including overflowing sewage and unsafe drinking water. Surjewala urged the government to implement several reforms, including capacity assessments, removal of encroachments, and a clean air action plan, to rectify the urban crisis.

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Why It Matters

The court's stay on the stilt-plus-four policy could lead to a reassessment of urban planning and construction regulations in Haryana, potentially improving public safety and infrastructure.

Who is affected

Residents of Gurugram, Faridabad, and Panchkula, as well as local businesses and commuters.

What to know

The Haryana government should address the court's concerns by reforming urban planning policies and improving civic infrastructure.

FAQ

It is a construction policy allowing buildings to have stilt parking plus four additional floors.

The court cited concerns over public safety and inadequate infrastructure planning.

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