Soon, the Punjab Government would bring in a law to regularise illegal colonies in the State, and transfer of ownership rights to the occupants.
To formulate the same, the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has set up a panel, headed by the State Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh.
Besides, the State Government has also initiated the process of allotting free houses for the homeless poor, as promised in the Congress poll manifesto. Chief Minister has also directed the Town and Country Planning Department to complete work on preparing Master Plans of all the cities in the State by the end of the current financial year.
The directions were issued during a high-level review meeting of the State Housing and Urban Development department. Besides, series of measures, including allotment of project-based No Due Certificate (NDC) to promoters, in order to ease real estate business in the State, were also taken.
Spokesperson said that the NDC will now be valid for three months, to be taken by the on the date of application for a particular service rather than as on date of delivery of service.
In another decision, the Chief Minister approved the reduction of transfer fee levied by Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) from 2.5 to two per cent till March 31, 2018.
Capt Amarinder directed the concerned officials to ensure completion of the master plans within the stipulated time-frame by outsourcing the necessary planning work, if need be.
On the issue of regularisation of the illegal colonies, it was decided to set up a committee under the Chief Secretary to formulate the necessary legislation for their regularization and grant of ownership rights to the occupants.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal stressed the need to ensure implementation of master plans in all the cities of Punjab, which currently has only 43 cities covered by master plans. The Chief Minister ordered work on the master plans to be take up on priority, with all master plans to be made available online.
A mobile app has also been launched, with effect from Tuesday, to facilitate the online procurement of property records by the allottees. The application would be extended later to cover e-payment services, such as making payments towards the allotted sites, payment user charges, viewing availability of sites with different authorities, the spokesperson said.
Chief Minister also directed the department to initiate the process of identification and scrutiny of beneficiaries for free houses under the Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojana.
It was also decided to implement the poll promise of 30 per cent reservation for SCs in all future allotments, besides subsidized loans to families for buying or improving MIG housing. The meeting agreed to bring in a new need-based policy for lIG housing.
Capt Amarinder directed the department to come up with a detailed plan for the amalgamation of various Real Estate authorities to ensure better service for the citizens. On the suggestion for reduction of ClU, it was felt that all stakeholders should be consulted before taking a final decision.
Taking note of the grievances of owners of marriage palaces, the Chief Minister asked the department to meet the stakeholders and take their views.
Among the other key decisions taken at the meeting were single-window clearance for small investors in five major cities, fixing of reasonable reserve prices for plots and sites, review of policy to allow medium sized real estate housing project, inclusion of EWS residential projects in industrial zones in all master plans and moratorium on the payment of EDC due extended for the calendar year 2017.
It was also decided to review the policy regarding compensation to the promoters on account of land acquired for the purpose of construction of sector roads. The meeting also agreed on de-hypothecation of sites pledged at the same rate at which they were hypothecated till March 31, 2018.
Quick clearance of ClU or layout plans, fast-track acquisition of Revenue Rastas, early resolution of issues relating to Punjab State Power Corporation limited, expediting recruitment of staff, and collection of arrears of OUGVl and other properties by Special Development Authorities were some of the other important decisions taken at the meeting.
EDC received by development authorities from a project will be utilized for providing basic services viz. road connectivity, water and sewerage connection to that project on priority, it was further decided.
The meeting also decided to set up a Tourism-cum-Theme Destination Park around Thein Dam along Ranjit Sagar lake in PPP mode.