Punjab Government on Wednesday notified a revised policy to regularise the unauthorised colonies in the State. The revised policy would only approve unauthorised colonies and buildings constructed before April 1, 2013. There are about 5,300 unauthorised colonies in Punjab.
The new policy has slashed regularisation charges especially for the small plot holders and poor giving major relief to all sections of the society. The policy has been framed with the objective of bringing all unauthorised colonies and buildings in the planning framework and to regularise development, facilitating implementation of Master Plan's land use, improving circulation pattern of streets and providing basic amenities to residents of these areas, a Government spokesman said. The policy envisages compulsory application for regularisation by owners of plots and buildings in unauthorised colonies for compounding or regularisation of their plots within 45 days of notification of the policy, he said.
The composition fee for regularisation of unauthorised colonies constructed before August 17, 2007 would be 0.5 per cent of collector rate as on April 1, 2013, subject to a minimum of Rs 25,000 and maximum of Rs one lakh per acre. For unauthorised colonies constructed after August 17, 2007, the fee would be two per cent of collector rate subject to a minimum of Rs one lakh and maximum of Rs five lakh per acre. To have strict control on the development of unauthorized colonies and building activity in the future, the “revised” policy has ensured stringent legal provisions which provide seven-year imprisonment with a fine which may extend to Rs five lakhs on conviction of the coloniser of an unauthorized colony. Under the proposed provisions, unauthorised buildings in an unauthorised colony shall not be sanctioned water supply, sewer or electric connection, no registrar or sub–registrar shall register their sale deed or any other document regarding the sale of that plot or building besides the building shall be liable for demolition.