RWAs, traders of Chandigarh form coordination panel

Chandigarh, April 13

To oppose the UT Administration’s draft notification for an amendment to the Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulation) Act, 1952, traders, industrialists and residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) have formed the Chandigarh Coordination Committee.

The joint forum, which will represent more than 15 associations, will finalise the roadmap to oppose the UT’s proposal. In the coming days, the committee will also organise a candlelight march, car rally and will paste protest stickers on their cars and outside their shops and factories. The decision was taken at a meeting held here today.

At the meeting, it was decided that representatives of these associations will also submit their objections against the proposal on Monday at the UT Secretariat, where the committee members will also hold placards opposing the “unjustified” 400-time hike in the penalty amount.

In the draft notification, the UT Administration has proposed to impose building misuse penalty amount of up to Rs. 2 lakh. The suggestion was made in a public notice for and amendment to the Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulation) Act, 1952, for revision of penalty. The UT has recommended to increase the penalty from the current Rs. 500 to Rs. 2 lakh. Fine for each day, during which the offence is proved to have continued after the first day, was proposed to be increased from Rs. 20 to Rs. 8,000 per day.

“Any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-section (2) of Section 4 or Section 6 of the Act shall, on conviction, be punishable with a fine, which may extend to Rs. 2 lakh, and a further fine, which may extend to Rs. 8,000 for each day during which the offence is proved to have continued after the first day,” said the draft amendment with respect to the building misuse violations. The penalty was also proposed to be increased by 5 per cent annually. However, the maximum penalty levied on any person may not exceed 20 per cent of the total value of the property calculated as per the prevalent collector rate on the date of adjudication.