Already sharing divergent view with its ally — Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) — in Punjab, on a slew of issues, Punjab BJP on Tuesday opposed the “high” regularisation fees for regularising unauthorised colonies in the State. The party wants the State Government to “review” the present fees.
Punjab government only recently gave a one last chance for the colonisers and individual plot holders to regularise their unauthorised structures by paying anything between Rs 1.20 lakh and Rs 15 lakh per acre as regularisation charges, depending upon the area in which the colonies were set up between 1995 and April 1, 2013.
To put forth the party’s stand on the issue, the State BJP president along with senior party leaders, including Balramji Dass Tandon and State Industries Minister Anil Joshi, would be meeting Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday asking him to review the charges.
The “unanimous” decision to this effect was taken during the party’s core committee meeting after the residents and property dealers criticised the move and staged protests. It was decided in the meeting that the Government authorities would be asked to review the current charges and fix the amount that would be easy for the residents or colonisers to pay, party sources told The Pioneer.
Besides, the party is also of the view that the State Government should not impose any new taxes, instead, the ambit of the existing taxes be increased.