The Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) and the UT Estate Office have issued notices to as many as 386 homeowners in Sectors 29 and 30 for illegal constructions and misuse of residential properties.

The move comes after demolition drives conducted in Sectors 41 and 45 earlier this month over similar violations.

According to officials, the notices have been served on residents who had carried out unauthorised constructions or deviated from approved building plans. These include construction of extra rooms, storage spaces and balconies on rooftops without permission. In several cases, homeowners have also altered the original structural design by erecting additional pillars, which officials say poses serious safety concerns besides violating building regulations.

The authorities have made it clear that such violations will not be tolerated and strict action will follow in all identified cases. A major concern has emerged in Sector 30 where several houses have opened additional doors facing the road separating Sectors 27 and 30. These houses were originally allotted by the CHB and the Estate Office as per approved layouts. However, nearly 170 homeowners have created direct access to their premises from the road side in violations of the norms. Residents have also encroached upon public land by occupying extra space for parking vehicles. In some cases, small private green areas have been developed on public land.

Officials say this has not only increased encroachment but also affected traffic movement and raised safety concerns in the area. According to officials, the Estate Office had earlier issued multiple notices in similar cases, but violations continued despite warnings. The Estate Office will now initiate further action against the defaulters, stated the officials.

CHB officials said homeowners found violating norms had been given a 15-day window to voluntarily remove unauthorised constructions. If the violations are not rectified within the stipulated time, authorities will proceed with demolition.

According to the UT Administration, the crackdown aims to ensure adherence to building rules and curb illegal construction in the city. The CHB had started a demolition drive against illegal constructions and encroachments across the city in the first week of April. Unauthorised structures or encroachments were razed in Sector 41 as part of the drive.

On the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the CHB had issued notices to around 1,300 house owners for building violations and directed them to deposit demolition and restoration charges or face action.

"Since there are a large number of houses that have illegal constructions, the CHB has started the drive to raze the violations," said officials. The CHB advised all allottees to remove the violations/encroachments to evade action and further told them to undertake restoration of structural components at their own level at the earliest.

The High Court, vide its order dated November 28, 2019, had directed the CHB to constitute a committee to find out whether certain buildings are unsafe for residential purpose.

Accordingly, an expert committee was constituted on December 13, 2019, and its report was submitted to the High Court. The court directed the authorities to take remedial measures to rectify the illegal constructions/encroachments.