Much to the relief of owners of large-scale unauthorised constructions in the state, Himachal Government on Wednesday tabled amendment to the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country planning Act, 1977, facilitating regularisation of 12,694 unauthorised constructions in one year period.
After introducing the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill of 2014 in the House, Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma said that the Government has tried to address the issue of regularisation of unauthorised constructions raised in contravention of existing law by bringing retention policies and guidelines from time to time. "High Court had taken a serious view of the grim situation in different cases and had asked the Government not to regularise the total unauthorised constructions in the State," said Sharma adding that for the purpose the amendments was necessitated.
Sharma said that demolition of such large numbers of unauthorised constructions is neither feasible nor desirable as it will result in undue hardship to the owners and occupants.