Govt gives one-time chance to developers for renewal of licences

LUDHIANA: In the wake of legal hurdle in renewal of lapsed licenses granted to developers by various special urban development authorities under the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Punjab, for setting up colonies as provided in the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act (PAPRA) 1995, the state government has provided a ‘one-time opportunity’ to all such promoters whose licences had expired to get the same renewed till December 31.

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, May 21

In the wake of legal hurdle in renewal of lapsed licenses granted to developers by various special urban development authorities under the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Punjab, for setting up colonies as provided in the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act (PAPRA) 1995, the state government has provided a ‘one-time opportunity’ to all such promoters whose licences had expired to get the same renewed till December 31.

Giving this information, Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) officials said prior to amendment carried out in PAPRA in 2014, the licences for development of colonies were issued with a validity of three years with a provision for renewal on year-to-year basis.

However, post amendment in 2014, the validity period of the licence was raised from three to five years with a provision for renewal for a maximum period of two years, he added.

“The validity period of a large number of licences granted for colonies under PAPRA by special urban development authorities, including GLADA, has lapsed and there is no provision for renewal of such licences in the amended PAPRA Act, which is causing inconvenience to the general public,” officials said.

In view of the prevailing situation, the government has taken a decision to renew all lapsed licences strictly on ‘one-time basis’ till December 2019 in the larger public interest and to provide an opportunity to the developers to complete their unfinished works without any legal complication, the officials added.

All developers with lapsed licences have been directed to apply for renewal of licences of their colonies with the special urban development authority, under whose jurisdiction the colony is located, without any further delay.

“Failure to submit application for renewal of lapsed licences would be liable for legal action against the developer under the provisions of PAPRA, as amended in 2014,” it was made clear by the GLADA officials.