MDDA assures Uttarakhand HC of demolition against unauthorised constructions in Rishikesh, ET RealEstate
DEHRADUN: The Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) informed the Uttarakhand high court on Wednesday that it had made an oversight in regularising unauthorised constructions in Rishikesh. MDDA chairman and Garhwal commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey told the bench of Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Alok Mehra that demolition proceedings against the unauthorised structures would begin within a month.
The bench was hearing a petition filed by Rishikesh residents, including Pankaj Agarwal, alleging that unauthorised constructions were being carried out in the city’s housing development area in violation of sanctioned plans. Following a complaint, the MDDA sealed the site. However, an assistant engineer later removed the seal and sanctioned the map, effectively regularising the illegal construction.
The petitioners argued that such unauthorised constructions must be stopped to protect the environment. They further claimed that illegal construction was widespread not only in Rishikesh but also in Dehradun and Mussoorie. Despite clear directives from the Garhwal commissioner, subordinate officials were enabling these activities on the basis of applications submitted by the parties involved, they added.
The court has set the next hearing in matter for May 5.
