Up in arms against UT Administration’s orders regarding maintaining heritage and not bringing any changes in building structures, the UT traders on Friday demanded that heritage status of Sector-17 should be granted exemption.
Stating that they have been suffering due to UT’s directions on heritage conservation and cannot construct modern and attractive buildings in Sector 17, the traders demanded that the Administration should look into the issue and heritage status for buildings in Sector-17 should be exempted.
The traders on Friday met UT Finance Secretary Sarabjit Singh and other UT officials to put forth their demands. The traders’ delegation also submitted a memorandum of demands to the Finance Secretary.
Facing stiff competition with lavish malls that has come up in Industrial Area here, the UT traders demanded revamping of Sector 17—the commercial complex of City Beautiful.
The traders stated, “The Administration is adamant to keep on old and outdated façade and cemented outlook on buildings in Sector 17 due to heritage status. Few building owners like Jagat (now TDI Mall), KC Theatre and Neelam Cinema who wished to change their site to Malls are being victim of this heritage status and suffered as they could not fulfill their wish to construct modern building.
The traders in Chandigarh wish to construct modern and colourful showrooms to compete with the Shopping Malls being built on the outskirts of Chandigarh. So, the Administration may consider our request and heritage status for buildings in Sector 17 be granted exemption, demanded the delegation.
They said that a 5-star lalit hotel is constructed in IT Park where no such stipulation is found and its façade and tempting structure, inner facilities are indeed eye catching to the tourists. However, the Hotel Taj and Park Plaza in Sector 17 having five star status, lack such modern outlook due to heritage status. The relaxations in texture paint on inner and external façade alongwith RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) band and parapets should also be considered, said the traders.
Under UT Administration’s heritage conservation plan, the heritage zone V extends across City Centre Sector 17 and Central State library, Tall Hall Building and commercial areas like SCOs/SCFs are named as heritage precincts.
The traders further demanded shifting of all government offices from ground to upper floor to ensure beautification of Sector 17 in a bid to attract tourists.
They said that Administration should allow commercial activities on all floors of building as and when the plan of the building is approved under commercial category and there should be no binding of any kind in the interests of our businesses.
The traders also urged that internal need based changes should be allowed. Big internal changes involving structural changes may be proceeded against as building bylaws violation but small need based internal changes may be ignored, demanded the traders.
The notices of violation should be issued specifically pointing out compoundable offences with definite amount payable by the occupant/owner. Also, the notice must clearly mention the violations which need to be removed. In this event, a clear notice of 60-90 days can be given with directions to bring DD as fee for compoundable offence and simultaneously, a letter confirming removal of non-compoundable offence, the traders suggested.
Recently, the UT Finance Secretary had directed the UT Estate Office not to apply a policy of pick and choose in the inspection of properties for building by-laws violations and misuse. He had also asked the Estate office that before taking any coercive action against property owners due notice should be given to them.
During the meeting with UT officials on Friday, the traders raised issues like construction of mezzanine floor to allow upper area for storage or working place, revision and decrease in collectorate rates, issuance of pending NOCs for Transfer/GPA of leasehold properties, said Kamaljit Singh Panchhi, president, Sector 17 Traders Association.
He said that due to opening of Shopping Malls, Sector 17—one of the prestigious Sectors in the city has lost business and visitors’ footfall. Therefore, special measures and relaxations in existing strict byelaws needs to be looked into and revised, added he.