No amendments planned for construction laws outside ‘Lal Dora’ in UTs: MHA

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) clarified in Parliament that it does not plan to amend laws governing construction outside ‘lal dora’ areas in Chandigarh. The response came after MP Manish Tewari raised questions about the relevance of these laws in the 22 villages of Chandigarh, now under the municipal corporation.

Existing regulations

The MHA explained that under the Punjab New Capital (Periphery) Control Act, 1952, constructing buildings outside lal dora boundaries requires prior permission from the competent authority. The Act regulates development in these areas to ensure adherence to the Chandigarh Master Plan 2031, which outlines urban planning and development goals.

Within lal dora, the Chandigarh Rural Inhabitations Construction and Reconstruction Building Bylaws govern construction. However, the master plan also controls development outside these boundaries to maintain uniformity in urban expansion.

This decision affects residents in 22 villages of Chandigarh, such as Kishangarh, Manimajra, and Hallomajra, where many houses are located outside lal dora. These residents had hoped for regularization of their properties. Lal dora originally marked land for non-agricultural village purposes like keeping livestock, defined by red threads as boundaries. Any construction on agricultural land beyond these areas remains illegal.

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During the last Lok Sabha elections, both Congress and BJP had promised to address this issue in their manifestos, impacting thousands of residents.

The MHA added that water connections are governed by the Chandigarh Water Supply Bylaws, 2011. The municipal corporation (MC) can only provide water connections within lal dora. Unauthorised water connections outside lal dora are routinely disconnected by MC authorities.

Dissatisfaction expressed by MP Tewari

MP Manish Tewari criticized the MHA’s response, stating that the government had failed to address his concerns. He questioned the relevance of lal dora regulations when areas outside villages are now under the MC’s jurisdiction. Tewari accused the government of relying on outdated rules and neglecting the city’s pressing issues.

The concept of lal dora dates back to colonial times when village habitation areas were marked with red threads to distinguish them from agricultural land. These areas were meant for non-agricultural activities, but the expansion of cities like Chandigarh has blurred these boundaries, creating legal and administrative challenges. Residents in areas like Khuda Ali Sher and Kaimbwala have long awaited regularization of their properties, but the government’s decision to uphold existing laws leaves these issues unresolved.