In view of increasing numbers of illegal structures and buildings under different development authorities in the State, the authorities are planning to re-launch the Sarbakshama Yojana (amnesty scheme) in February for regularising these constructions and unauthorised projects.
A Working Committee and a Scrutiny Committee have been formed for implementation of the amnesty scheme. The Working Committee comprises the BDA, CDA and OSD Town Planning Members while the BDA Deputy Chairman, the Town Planning Director and an official in the rank of Joint Secretary of the Urban Development Department have been appointed as members of the Scrutiny Committee.
If required, the Scrutiny Committee can make necessary changes in the recommendations made by the Working Committee. The final report by the Scrutiny Committee would be submitted to the Urban Development Secretary.
The scheme would be implemented after it gets nod from the Cabinet, said sources in the Urban Development Department.
The move aims to regularise the unauthorised constructions in the wake of reports about lakhs of buildings constructed without plan under the nine Development Authorities, including the BDA, said a senior official in the department.
The amnesty scheme would be implemented in Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), Cuttack Development Authority (CDA), Rourkela Development Authority (RDA), Talcher-Angul-Mermunduli Development Authority, Brahmapur Development Authority, Sambalpur Development Authority, Puri-Konark Development Authority, Kalinga Nagar Development Authority and Paradip Development Authority. Fine would be collected per square feet of the illegal constructions. A further decision would be made about the types of projects to be included under the scheme, the source said.
As per the proposed amendments to be made in the scheme, the illegal constructions would not be demolished; rather they would be regularised after payment of fine.
Notably, the Sarbakshama Yojana had first been launched in Bhubaneswar in the year 2007 and was later extended to Cuttack. However, the scheme could not be implemented successfully.