Punjab Government on Sunday announced a new compounding policy to regularise buildings constructed without approval of concerned authorities outside the municipal limits of towns or cities. The policy was aimed at bringing these habitations under the ambit of planning framework ensuring proper accessibility, parking and ensuring adequate security of habitants, said the Government's spokesperson.
As per the notification of Housing and Development Department, the composition fee for constructions which were in conformity with building rules would be charged Rs10 per square feet of covered area for residential building, plotted, industrial and other buildings whereas Rs20 per square feet for group housing.
He said that in the case of commercial building, Rs30 per square feet and for institutional or public buildings, hotels,dhabhas, restaurants or hospitals with covered area has been fixed as Rs20 per square feet.
The spokesperson clarified that the constructions not in conformity with rules and having excess covered area, including space under steps or ramps within required zoned area would be charged Rs15 per square feet for area up to five per cent.
In case of institutional and public buildings, Rs40 per square feet and Rs60 from commercial plots would be charged.
He said that compounding fee would be applicable only to cases submitted to the town and country planning department within a period of three months from the notification of this policy. Besides, this policy would not be applicable on those marriage palaces which have already been covered under regularisation policy launched for marriage palaces.
Spokesperson informed that no Change of land Use (ClU), External development charges (EDC) and license fee would be charged from unauthorised buildings constructed between January 21, 2005, to August 16, 2007, but building owners would have to pay composition fee on building structure as fixed under this policy.
He added that compounding fees would have to be deposited through a bank draft in favour of competent authority of department of town and country planning. Besides, fire safety certificate and structural safety or stability certificate for existing buildings would have to be submitted along with application.
It was also made clear that this policy was not applicable to buildings constructed on the land belonging to State or central Governments, public undertakings, panchayats, shamlat lands, jumla mushtarka malkaan or waqf board, or land under Punjab land Preservation Act (PlPA), etc.