Cuttack, May 25: The urban development authority here has detected more than 400 cases of use of residential plots for commercial purposes, including renting out for hostels, at Markatnagar.
But the Cuttack Development Authority's (CDA) bid to stop such violation of terms of allotment of residential plots in more than 80 per cent cases has virtually remained restricted to initiating proceedings only.
A CDA official claimed that proceedings had been initiated in all the cases for use of residential plots for commercial purposes and action was being initiated in phases. In the first phase, action is being taken after issuance of notices for closure of hostels in buildings constructed on residential plots.
Markatnagar was developed as a model residential zone by the CDA in plotted scheme in Bidanasi project area.
"Change of residential buildings for commercial purposes will not be allowed under any circumstances as it is not permissible under statutory provisions and town plan, which was developed as part of plotted scheme," CDA secretary Kabindra Kumar Sahu told The Telegraph today.
He added: "The case of renting out residential buildings for hostels was taken up on priority basis as part of implementation of a high court order."
On June 24, 2016, the high court had hauled up the CDA for "inaction" against use of residential buildings for hostels at Markatnagar "as it violated the principle of sustainable development and public trust which amounts to infringing on fundamental rights of the residents to live peacefully in their residential houses".
The court further directed the CDA to take decision on the notices issued in such cases as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of two months after giving opportunity of hearing of the parties.
CDA land department officials said proceedings had been initiated in 48 cases of renting out of residential buildings for hostels. "After giving opportunity of hearing, we have already taken final decision and followed up with closure action in 47 cases. Closure action will be taken shortly in the last such case," land officer Md Ishaque said.
While issuing the direction on a PIL, the court had observed: "The action of inmates of the hostels severely affects peace and tranquillity in the residential area. The peace and tranquillity of the residential area shall be maintained by all those who are disturbing the same in the area by creating nuisance needs to be strictly dealt with. All those activities need to be stopped."
Markatnagar Sector-XI resident Chittaranjan Mohanty said: "It is good that the high court order is being implemented. But use of residential buildings for other commercial purposes need to be stopped as well as they also add to nuisance in the residential area."