The city’s traders association on Tuesday demanded reviewing of rules framed under Punjab Capital Act of 1952 and constitution of a Building Bye-laws Advisory Committee in Chandigarh.
A delegation of traders’ association led by its president Kamaljit Singh Panchhi met UT Finance Secretary Sarabjit Singh on Tuesday to discuss the issues related to building bye-laws.
The association has been demanding setting up of a Building Bye-laws Advisory Committee consisting of traders, architects, industrialists, RWAs, etc. to hold quarterly meetings and discuss the issues relating to building bye-laws in Chandigarh.The same issue was raised during the meeting with the UT Finance Secretary on Tuesday.
The members of the association said that there is terror and tension in the trading community in Chandigarh after sealing of buildings by the UT Enforcement Wing in Chandigarh due to violations in buildings. The Administration is still trying to implement and rely upon obsolete building bye-laws of Punjab Capital Act 1952 which indeed do not match with the existing setup and structure in Chandigarh, they said.
The association demanded the rules framed under Punjab Capital Act of 1952 need to be reviewed as Chandigarh is not the same as it was 60 years before. Its population has grown to four times with the same commercial and residential areas surrounded by Haryana and Punjab boundaries, job avenues changed etc. Even Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Chandigarh Administration in November 2012 to initiate steps to update 1952 Act, said the association.
“There is need to inform the owner/occupiers, in black and white, the nature of violation, whether compoundable or not and in case of compoundable, the Estate Office should inform the charges to regularize the violation thru a simple and shortest method. In case of non compoundable offence, one must be given sufficient time of atleast 2 months to get the same removed to avoid such situation arising out of sealing,” demanded the association.
The members said that the system of revised plan for small violations should be dispensed with and this be allowed thru sanction letter etc. The internal changes in premises should be allowed, of course, after caring for structural stability of the building. All the buildings which are constructed 15 -20 years before but not issued any notice of violation should not be proceeded against violation and be regularized as is where is.
The association added that the revised buildings plan have been submitted to Estate Office since many months but are waiting for approval. Please don’t proceed against such buildings till the approval of plans,” said they.
After the discussion, the UT Finance Secretary assured the deputation to call a meeting of traders and formation of building Bye-laws Advisory Committee very soon, said the association.