Only nine officials to prevent illegal construction, squatters in Gurugram

 There are only nine officials to prevent illegal construction, encroachment and unauthorised commercial activities across 1,400 sq km area of Gurugram that falls under the jurisdiction of the department of town and country planning (DTCP). Officials claimed that the enforcement wing of DTCP not only needed more staff but also an additional district attorney — the post that has been lying vacant for seven years now, undermining the department’s fight against illegal activities. If sources are to be believed, the department is fighting at least 225 cases related to land disputes and various other issues, many of which are pending in the Supreme Court and the Punjab & Haryana high court. However, in the absence of an additional district attorney, general officials of the enforcement wing appear in court to represent the department. A senior DTCP official said despite the extra burden, they had been able to resolve 340 complaints in the past one year with 40 more still pending.