The Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) has taken a strict stance against unauthorised construction in the historic Walled City area. On Tuesday, the civic body sealed an old building located on Chaura Rasta near New Gate for a period of three months. This decisive action came after the property owner repeatedly ignored official notices and carried out renovation work without obtaining the necessary permissions.
Stringent Action Under JMC Act 2009
The JMC's vigilance wing issued the final notice to the building owner under Section 194 of the JMC Act 2009. This legal provision was invoked due to the lack of more specific enforcement laws for such heritage-related violations. An official from the vigilance wing clarified the situation, stating that the sealing was a direct result of non-compliance with their earlier directive.
"Since we don't have stringent enforcement laws to act in such cases, we have issued notice under Section 194 of the JMC Act 2009. Due to non-compliance with that notice, we sealed the building for three months," the JMC official said. The sealing order restricts access to the entire main building, including the shops situated on its ground-floor façade.
A History of Defiance and Repeated Violations
Officials revealed that this was not an isolated incident but a case of persistent defiance. The property owner had been allegedly carrying out interior construction and refabrication work without JMC approval for the past two years. Despite the civic body issuing repeated reminders and even managing to temporarily halt the work on several occasions, the owner resumed construction activities each time.
This pattern of non-compliance forced the JMC to escalate its response. The recent sealing order aligns with the corporation's renewed resolution to adopt stricter measures against property owners in the Walled City who attempt to make unauthorised alterations to heritage structures.
Broader Crackdown on Heritage Violations
The action against the Chaura Rasta building signals a broader crackdown by the Jaipur Municipal Corporation. The Walled City, with its iconic pink architecture and historical significance, is protected under various heritage regulations. Unauthorised modifications threaten the area's architectural integrity and cultural value.
By taking this firm step, the JMC aims to send a clear message to all property owners in the heritage zone. The three-month sealing is intended to serve as both a penalty and a deterrent, emphasizing that unauthorised renovation work on old structures will not be tolerated. The civic body's move underscores the growing challenge of preserving urban heritage while managing private property rights in historic city centres.
