Punjab formulates policy to regularise unauthorised colonies

Punjab government has formulated a policy to regularise unauthorised colonies and structures aimed at benefiting residents in about 5,000 such habitats.
A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of the council of ministers held recently, a spokesman of the government said today, stressing that it would bring relief to about 5,000 colonies and 2 lake individual plot holders and building owners across the state.
The policy focuses on bringing all unauthorised colonies and buildings into the planning framework, which would further facilitate smooth implementation of master plans across the state ensuring urban development in a holistic manner.

The policy would be applicable for a period of one year from April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014, he said.
Only those unapproved colonies or buildings constructed before April 1, 2013 would be considered under this policy, the spokesman said.
If any resident does not apply by August 25, then legal proceedings would be initiated, he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal instructed all Deputy Commissioners to launch a sustained campaign to regularise illegal colonies.
"Punjab government has come out with a policy which would allow house and plot owners in illegal colonies to get their tenements regularised with a nominal fee," he said after presiding over a meeting here.

Banning registration of properties in illegal colonies, Sukhbir said, a list of illegal colonies has already been dispatched to all Deputy Commissioners.
In another decision, the state government extended the date to get unauthorised marriage palaces regularised till August 14 and applications should be submitted to Chief Administrator, Development Authorities.
Those marriage palace owners, who have been asked to submit charges or to amend site or layout plans by different wings of the department, are now instructed to furnish relevant documents by August 14, the spokesman said.