Nod to ordinance for regularising illegal structures

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 27

The Cabinet today gave approval for promulgation of an ordinance for one-time regularisation of over 30,000 unauthorised constructions in the state on “as is where it is” basis by amending the Town and Country Planning Act, 1977.

The decision was taken by the Cabinet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today. The Cabinet also decided to enhance the retirement age of General Duty Medical Officers under Directorate of Health Services from 58 to 60 years.

The applicants will have to apply within 45 days from the date of promulgation of the ordinance, which had been in the pipeline for quite some time. However, buildings constructed on encroached municipal or government land shall not qualify for regularisation nor the structures raised in green areas. The compounding rate would be double for commercial unauthorised structures.

Sources said that all such unauthorized structures shall be subjected to stringent scrutiny of structural audit before they are regularized but the rates for compounding had been reduced so that everyone can avail the benefit. The unauthorized buildings which do not qualify for regularization under the ordinance shall face disconnection of electricity and water services.

The basic rate for deviation on set-backs up to 35 per cent for residential buildings (where permission has been taken but deviation has been made on set-backs) would be Rs 800 per sq mts for ground floor level and Rs 400 per sq mts for each subsequent floor level. The rate for the unauthorized building would Rs 400 per sq mts for ground level coverage in rural areas or outside MC area and Rs. 200 per sq mts for each subsequent floor. The rate would multiply two times for deviations on set-backs measuring above 35 per cent and up to 70 per cent.

Number of unauthorised storeys in Municipal areas would be retained at Rs 1,500 per sq mts up to 100 square metre of the unauthorized area. This rate will be Rs 1,000 per sq mts for deviations in rural areas. Deviations beyond 100 sq mts in unauthorized storeys would be compounded at double rate.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to enhance the honorarium of part time workers in the Education Department from Rs 1700 to Rs 1900 from April 1, 2016. It also approved the framing of a policy for granting ownership rights to lease holders who were given land on lease in pre-independence in Dalhousie Municipal Council area. The Cabinet decided to create a new inspection wing in the Education Department to be headed by Joint Director (Inspection). It also decided to implement the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for procurement of processing grade mango during the year 2016.

Approval was given by the Cabinet to incorporate a few amendments in Hydro Power Policy so that the request of bona fide Himachalis, to whom projects up to 2 MW capacity had been allotted could sell/transfer 49% equity shares to non-Himachalis at any stage after allotment of projects and full disinvestment after two years of commissioning. It also approved that in case of bona fide Himachalis to whom projects above 2 MW to 5 MW capacity are allotted, could sell/transfer 51per cent equity shares to non-Himachalis.

The Cabinet decided to extend the validity of letter of intent of Jangi Thopan (480MW) and Thopan Powari (960MW) hydro power projects. It also decided to allot Tandi (104 MW) and Rashil (130 MW) hydro power projects. It approved to grant land on lease basis in favour of M/s Jai Prakash Power Ventures Ltd. for construction/ establishment of Karchham-Wangtoo hydro power project in Kinnaur district.

Nod was given for creation of posts in various departments.