CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government proposes to go ahead with the proposal to develop a satellite town tentatively called New Chandigarh on the north-west of the Union Territory despite abjections raised by the Chandigarh Administration.

A committee of secretaries headed by Chief Secretary A.S.Chatha is to Meet here soon to finalize the proposal to acquire 1926.90 acres of land in Kansal Naya Caon and Nada villages The proposal is likely to be approved in the next Punjab Cabinet meeting.

Besides the acquisition of land in these villages there is a proposal to acquire and utilize areas lying between the Union Territory boundary and Zirakpur Chowk. This would include all areas around Zirakpur which are highly vulnerable to colonization and unauthorized construction. IL is also proposed to demolish all illegal construction in the area. ‘The plans being considered include a New Town Development Authority as provided in the proposal legislation on Urban Development Authority’s to handle all the work connected with the development of the proposed town. The private sector may be allowed to plan and develop the township so as to keep the financial commitment of the government to the minimum

Sources dismissed as unfounded objections raised by the Chandigarh Administration regarding violation of the provisions of the Punjab New Capital (Periphery) Control Act 1952 if the township was developed.

They point out that the Act was primarily aimed at checking unplanned growth in the City’s vicinity but did not prohibit planned construction. Panchkula and Mohali have also been developed on the periphery of the UT they point out.

One of the arguments in favor of the proposed new township is that the phenomenal growth of Chandigarh and the consequent pressure on land has made it virtually impossible to stop unauthorized construction in the vicinity As such Mohali and Panchkula had proved beneficial to Chandigarh by casing pressure on it.

Any further expansion of Mohali is being ruled out as it is felt that the township bad already become unwieldy because of its elongated shape and also the fact that the area south of Mohali is highly fertile.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 4, 1994