It has been over a year now that the GHB refused to issue NOCs for any illegal construction in its housing complexes. The NOC is required for clearance of the owner’s impact fee applications pending with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). Besides this, GHB has also decided not to carry out any demolitions in the GHB residential and commercial properties in June last year, leaving it to the AMC.

In 2014, the GHB had come out with a circular stating that the impact fee cal culated for extra construction in GHB houses will factor in the prevailing Jantri rates in the area. For almost two years, there was no clear direction from the GHB over calculation of impact fees for GHB houses.

In an official letter marked to the AMC, GHB has said, “GHB cannot issue NOC for illegal constructions done by tenants outside the allotted plot boundaries or construction done over road or side margins as such illegal constructions are done over the common services like water supply lines, drainages etc.“ The GHB has cited a resolution dated February 2 last year.

But even as AMC avoids conducting demolitions in GHB housing complexes, claiming that it is the housing board’s responsibility, it appears that back in February 8, 2010, the urban development department categorically stated that it will be the responsibility of the AMC to demolish any unauthorized additional construction in GHB colonies. The UDD order was issued after the high court, in the case of Vasanti Desai vs the state of Gujarat, had held that it will be the duty of the urban local body to clear encroachments on any land acquired under the Slum Clearance Act.