Patna, July 13: The Bihar State Housing Board (BSHB) has decided to tighten the noose around an upscale housing society allegedly violating norms by letting out residential premises for commercial use.

Sources said around 1,600 plots sprawling more than 4,194 cottahs in Lohia Nagar were allotted to People’s Co-operative Housing Society in the late 1960s on a 99-year lease.

Nine hundred and ninety four plots, each measuring three cottahs, and 606 plots of two cottahs each in the co-operative colony were distributed to beneficiaries for residential purpose. Shops, boutiques, coaching institutes, a school and mobile towers have come up on many of these plots. Sources said such commercial utilisation is reported on more than 50 per cent of the plots in the society.

“The matter of commercial utilisation of residential plots in People’s Co-operative Society in Lohia Nagar is being looked into. Earlier, we had undertaken a survey to identify the status of commercial utilisation and a notice was served on the society. At present, the board is thinking of conducting a fresh survey of the plots in this society and thereafter, a showcause notice may be served on the society stating why should BSHB not cancel the allotment of plots on grounds of violation of allotment terms and conditions,” said a BSHB official.

Residents, on the other hand, seemed oblivious of the violation. “I am running my shop on rented property for the past seven years. When I sought this shop on rent, I was not told about the residential aspect of the land. I would not have taken this space on rent if I knew about such terms and conditions,” said a shopkeeper in the housing society. Earlier, the board had cancelled the allotment of two upscale housing societies in the capital.

Earlier, The Telegraph had reported in its issue dated June 18 about the cancellation of allotment of plots at Aniket Co-operative Housing Society, home to several present and former bureaucrats. Similarly, BSHB has also cancelled allotment of plots to another housing society named Adarsh Co-operative Housing Society against similar anomaly of commercial utilisation of residential plots. The Telegraph also highlighted this practice in its issue dated June 20 and similar violation at Doctors’ Co- operative Society in its issue dated June 1.

Sources claim that after a long time, the board is taking a firm stand on the misuse of its property to help generate revenue by penalising offenders who are openly flouting building rules and making good money at the cost of loss of revenue to the board.