CHB to impose penalty on illegal construction

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 13

Illegal construction in houses of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) will cost residents dear as the board has decided to impose a penalty depending on the severity of the violations.

Sources said the decision to impose the penalty at the rate of Rs 100 per sq ft was taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors today.

The proposal of the penalty was brought in to discourage people from carrying out illegal construction as a recent survey conducted by the CHB found large-scale violations in houses. The survey report was recently submitted to the authorities.

The board has already allowed covered area from 60 per cent to 70 per cent and fixed Rs 200 per sq ft for covering additional area without prior approval.

An officer of the board said many people had carried out construction in their houses beyond the permissible limit over the years and were approaching the board for relief. He said no cancellation or demolition would be carried out if the owners agreed to pay. This is the first time that such a penalty has been imposed on the pattern of the Estate Office where residents are charged penalty under the Estate Rules-2007.

Unlike the Estate Office, the CHB was not imposing penalty on misuse and violations. The CHB was either sending cancellation notices or demolishing the illegal construction.

According to the survey carried out by the CHB, violations range from making internal changes to constructing a room in the courtyard.