Senior Indian National Congress leader and MP Randeep Singh Surjewala has strongly criticised the Haryana government’s stilt-plus-four floors housing policy, calling it an “urban nightmare” driven by “political myopia.” His remarks came after the Punjab and Haryana High Court recently stayed the implementation of the controversial policy.

The High Court, in its April 2 order, raised serious concerns about public safety, observing that the state appeared to have prioritised revenue generation over infrastructure planning. The division bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry noted that basic civic considerations were overlooked while permitting high-density construction.

Citing these observations, Surjewala accused the government of ignoring ground realities and turning a “Nelson’s eye” to the consequences of unplanned urban expansion. He alleged that the policy was influenced by property dealers and the real estate lobby, resulting in what he described as a “Herculean urban tragedy” across the state.

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Taking aim at Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Surjewala highlighted deteriorating civic conditions in key cities such as Gurugram, Faridabad, and Panchkula. He pointed to issues including overflowing sewage, poor road infrastructure, unsafe drinking water, traffic congestion, encroachments, shrinking green spaces, and rising air pollution.

The Congress leader also proposed corrective measures, including a comprehensive capacity assessment of urban infrastructure, expansion of utilities, scientific waste management, restoration of water bodies, and stricter environmental practices such as rainwater harvesting and solar energy adoption. He further called for a clear parking policy and a time-bound action plan to tackle air pollution.

The controversy around the stilt-plus-four policy has intensified political debate in Haryana, with opposition leaders using the court’s intervention to question the government’s urban planning approach. The final outcome of the case is expected to have significant implications for future housing policies and infrastructure development in the state.

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