The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued an interim order prohibiting any illegal construction in Jaypee Wishtown, a township in Noida. The order addresses allegations of unauthorized developments in the green zone of the township, which is situated on the Yamuna riverbed and falls within the Okhla Bird Sanctuary's eco-sensitive zone. The NGT directed local authorities to prevent such activities and barred Jaypee Infratech Ltd from proceeding with construction in violation of environmental norms until the next hearing scheduled for August.Read more

In a significant milestone for affordable housing in Chhapra, 184 beneficiaries were handed the keys to their new homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) Urban 1.0. The initiative provides INR 2.5 lakh per beneficiary in three installments. Additionally, 683 beneficiaries under PMAY Urban 2.0 received their first installment payments, continuing the region's progress towards improving housing availability. This development is part of the government's mission to ensure housing for all and improve the standard of living for underserved communities.Read more

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has directed its officials to strictly enforce Supreme Court guidelines on unauthorized constructions, following criticism from the Bombay High Court over inaction in a 2021 Andheri case. The court had ordered demolition of the illegal building and disciplinary action against officials involved. In line with the Supreme Court's rules, the BMC will now hold officers accountable for issuing completion certificates to illegal structures, which cannot be regularized regardless of occupancy. This move marks a broader effort to tackle illegal construction in Mumbai and ensure lawful urban development by reinforcing accountability and adherence to planning norms.Read more

The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC), district officials, and traffic police conducted a joint inspection earlier this week and found numerous infractions in the city's main business districts, including Kutchery Chowk, Shaheed Chowk, Albert Ekka Chowk, Daily Market, and Anjuman Plaza. The violations identified encompassed unauthorized conversion of parking spaces into commercial units, illegal building extensions, and extensive street encroachments. In response, the RMC has initiated self-assessment procedures for properties in violation to ensure accurate tax compliance and has halted unauthorized construction activities.Read more

The enforcement wing of the Town and Country Planning Department demolished three unauthorized houses built on green zone land in South City 1, Gurgaon. The area, meant for a park, was illegally occupied by two temporary sheds and one semi-pucca house, all constructed without approval. Led by District Town Planner Amit Madholia, the drive followed prior notices to the encroachers, who failed to act. The move, supported by residents, underscores the importance of protecting green spaces and maintaining planned development. Officials emphasized that public land must benefit all, and such enforcement serves as a strong warning against future violations in one of Gurgaon's most prized residential areas.Read more

The Karnataka Revenue Department is accelerating the Bhu-Suraksha Project to digitise land records, having scanned 15.5 crore pages so far. With a goal of digitising 90 crore more pages by the end of the year, the department has issued notices to 192 tahsildars for failing to meet daily scanning targets. Officials are now required to meet their quotas by month-end. The scanned documents will be reviewed, approved, and uploaded online with digital signatures. The project aims to make land records accessible, prevent fraud, ensure long-term preservation, and provide easier public access through an online platform set to launch soon.Read more

Residents of Vijayawada have initiated a movement to upgrade the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) into the Greater Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (GVMC). A recent online survey revealed that 90.1% of participants support this transformation. The city's rapid expansion has led to challenges in providing basic civic amenities in newly integrated areas. An upgrade to GVMC would encompass an area of 300 to 400 sq km, making it the largest municipal corporation in Andhra Pradesh.Read more

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has launched an amnesty scheme to regularize an estimated 200,000 illegal water connections by charging a penalty of INR 4,000. However, only 130 property owners have responded so far. Unlike a 2021 scheme, this initiative includes unauthorized settlements, aiming for broader reach. Despite this, enforcement remains weak due to political resistance and repeated reconnections after disconnections. Legal residents are frustrated by continued water issues while illegal users face little consequence. To strengthen enforcement, ward-level teams have removed 835 illegal connections. The low response highlights the need for stronger policies to ensure fair and efficient water distribution in Pune.Read more

Earlier this week, the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) reaffirmed its compliance with the Bombay High Court's directives on the regularisation of plots in the Gunthewari layout. NIT clarified that the open space requirements under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act do not apply as the layout is regularised under the Gunthewari Act of 2001. The case concerns the regularisation of five plots in Raghvendra Griha Nirman Sahakari Sanstha, Mouza Manewada, challenged by the Chinchmalatpure Nagar Nagrik Kruti Samiti, with construction already underway. NIT stressed adherence to legal provisions and earlier court orders that upheld individual rights of plot holders.Read more

The Noida Authority has issued a warning to apartment owners' associations (AOAs) that their registrations may be canceled if they persist in discharging untreated sewage into stormwater drains. This directive follows a series of fines and FIRs against societies for environmental violations. Recent inspections revealed non-compliance at societies such as Lotus Panache and Maharishi Ashram, prompting action such as sealing sewer lines and FIR proceedings. Additionally, the Authority has directed FIRs against seven societies operating without functional sewage treatment plants. The move highlights Noida's commitment to ensuring better environmental management in residential areas.Read more