No more concession to house owners: Minister

Shimla, March 30

Urban Development and Town and Country Planning Minister Sudhir Sharma today said there was no scope for more concession to owners of unauthorised buildings in the state as it would amount to inviting illegal constructions.

Replying to the debate on cut motion, Sharma made it clear that the last date for applying for regularisation would not be extended. “Till 3 pm today, a total of 7,133 applications were received seeking regularisation of the unauthorised structures. Since it is a one-time settlement policy, there is no scope to extend the date,” he stated.

He said there was a misconception that the amendment to the TCP Act had been brought to benefit builders and others in the real estate business. “The amendment has been brought about to benefit the common man and make legal the status of all such structures which are unauthorised,” he clarified. He stated that the number of unauthorised structures in the state as being reported was not 30,000, but 8,500.

Conceding to the demand of Govind Thakur, the minister admitted that there had been irregularities in the allotment of a parking lot in Manali.He said an inquiry would be conducted. — TNS