Punjab’s urban development authorities on Sunday warned the marriage palaces’ owners in the State, who failed to deposit necessary fees for regularisation of their palaces, against the demand notices issued to them. “Amritsar Development Authority (ADA) and Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) have directed all defaulting marriage palaces owners to deposit requisite amount indicated in demand notices issued to them by senior town planners, otherwise action would be taken accordingly,” said a Government spokesperson.
He said that in some cases, the owners have not deposited necessary fees and they were served notices to make payment of regularisation fees. Giving details, spokesperson said that the State Government, on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, had notified policy guidelines and building norms for regularisation of existing marriage palaces and setting up of new marriage palaces.
He said that the development authorities could withdraw change of land use (ClU) granted to marriage palaces owners without any notice if they failed to deposit the balance fee with the country and town-planning department. He further informed that GMADA has directed the concerned authorities to seal marriage palaces, which have not deposited their ClU related charges in three districts — Roopnagar, SAS Nagar and Sri Fatehgarh Sahib. He said that out of total 97 marriage palaces in these districts, 53 have already been issued ClUs whereas 11 cases were under process.