Punishment for setting up illegal colonies in Punjab

Acting tough against setting up of illegal colonies in the state, Punjab government today proposed penalty and punishment for promoters who were found to have constructed such colonies in the state.
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today presented Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (Amendment Bill),2014 in the state Assembly on the last day of the budget session wherein promoters could be imprisoned for a minimum term of three years which may extend to seven years with a fine of Rs 2 lakh which may extend to Rs 5 lakh for contravening the provisions of the law.
The Bill also has a provision for making 35 per cent of the total cost as bank guarantee mandatory by promoter for getting approval for their project.

"If within five years, the project is not completed by the promoter, the bank guarantee would be forfeited by the state government," said Badal.
He further pointed out that with these amendments, the promoters of colonies would now provide basic amenities to purchasers of the houses or apartments.
The Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act, 1995 provides for establishment of new colonies, granting licenses for the same and for regulation of construction.

Notably, there is no provision in the act for prohibiting development of illegal colonies and illegal constructions which led to a number of unauthorised colonies and constructions coming up in the state.

Badal informed the House that the state government would now get land from colonisers under the law and get houses for economically weaker section (EWS) constructed.
"We have already got 300 acres of land for such project," he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister further said the state cabinet would soon extend the unauthorised colonies amnesty scheme for three months to enable more and more people to take benefit of it.