Punjab govt approves regularisation of unauthorised colonies

In a relief to the residents of unauthorised colonies, the Punjab Cabinet today gave a nod to the policy for regularisation of about 5,000 unauthorised colonies in the state.
The policy, approved under the Punjab Laws (Special Provisions) Act-2013, will provide relief to about 5,000 colonies covering two lakh individual plot holders or building owners' across the state, an official spokesman said here.
In another significant decision, the Punjab Cabinet announced to levy property tax by amending Punjab Municipal Act 1911 and the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act 1976, in accordance with the recommendations of Cabinet Sub-committee regarding property tax.
The decisions were taken in a state Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

The policy for regularisation of unauthorised colonies envisaged bringing all the unauthorised colonies into the planning framework for regularisation.
The policy will also ensure basic civic amenities to the residents of unauthorised colonies or areas, he said.

The policy, which is a one time opportunity, will be applicable for a period of one year starting from April 1, 2013, the spokesman said.
Only those unapproved colonies constructed before April 1, 2013 will be considered under the policy, he added.
The plot holders or colonisers will have to get their offence compounded for regularisation.
The colonisers are required to pay composition fee for compounding their offences and the fee will vary from area to area for the colonies, the spokesman said.

The approximate rates of composition fee vary from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh per acre. Similarly, the individual plot or building owners could come forward for regularisation by paying charges from Rs 50 per to Rs 500 per square yard, he said.
The money collected would be used for providing basic amenities in these colonies, he said.
The policy does not cover colonies which are set up over land belonging to state, Central government, public undertakings, Panchayat lands, Waqf Board, Land under Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), he said.