Minister tells officers to review EDC

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 16

Urban Local Bodies Minister Kavita Jain has directed the officers concerned to review the rates of external development charges (EDC) in the controlled areas under municipalities and make reasonable changes to inspire the residents to develop small licensed colonies in urban areas.

Presiding over a meeting with senior officers of the Haryana Urban Development Authority, Town and Country Planning and Urban Local Bodies Departments here today, she said this would help put a check on unauthorised construction and generate revenue for development of the area.

Unauthorised colonies exist due to high incidence of EDC rates. In order to put a check on these, the procedure for grant of license for small colonies to be developed over 2.5 acres, should be made simple and reasonable changes made in the EDC.

Jain said EDC rates in cities should be set by categorising hyper and less-hyper zones. For this, a committee of officers has been constituted to do the revaluation.

She also issued directions that a plan be prepared for grant of CLUs to small shopkeepers and showroom owners by making amendments in the policy for issuing CLUs to hotels and guest houses in the controlled areas falling within municipal limits.