Unchecked Construction in Lal Dora: A Threat to Mohali Villages

In the absence of building bylaws for Lal Dora, many high-rises, commercial structures have cropped up

- Nikhil Sharma

MOHALI: The tragic death of a 12-year-old boy in Mauli Baidwan village on Monday, struck by a falling iron grille from an under-construction five-storey building, has brought out the urgent need for building regulations in the Lal Dora areas of Mohali. With no existing rules or building bylaws, the local administration is powerless in preventing these dangerous high-rise constructions.

The five-storey building, which according to the police will house paying guest (PG) accommodations, is located within the Lal Dora. Lal Dora is an extension of the village habitation, which can be used by the villagers for non-agricultural purposes only, like for keeping livestock. The land revenue department originally marked these areas by tying a red thread or lal dora as a boundary. These areas are mainly used for residential purposes and not for commercial use.