Date for submission of applications extended

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, March 1

Bowing to the demand of the Punjab Colonisers and Property Dealers Association and other stakeholders, the Punjab Government has extended date for submission of applications for regularisation of unlicensed/illegal colonies to June 30.

The revised policy announced by the government on October 19, 2018, had expired after a stipulated period of four months on February 18, 2019.

In view of the fact that the policy in its existing form had failed to attract developers as only 225 applications were received from out of 1,920 identified illegal colonies under the jurisdiction of the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), the government accepted some demands put forth by developers in a series of meetings convened by Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and senior officials of the department with them.

Welcoming decision of the government to extend policy for another four months, Kultar Singh Jogi and GS Lamba, president and general secretary, respectively, of the Punjab Colonisers and Property Dealers Association, said the government had now decided that in addition to online submission of applications (for regularisation of colonies) these would be accepted manually at sewa kendras, designated branches of HDFC Bank and offices of the development authorities concerned.

The demand of developers for acceptance of applications in single set in place of eight sets as sought earlier was also accepted and directions issued to the competent authorities in this regard, said Lamba.

“Developers, many of whom are not computer literate, will also be able to upload more than one application from single e-mail ID,” he added.

According to Lamba, the demand of property developers regarding grant of power to issue ‘no objection certificate’ (NOC) to the Chief Administrator of the development authority in place of Estate Officer, was discussed at length.

The government’s stand that this had been done as per provisions laid down in the Punjab Laws (Special Provisions) for Regularisation of Unauthorised Colonies Act 2018, was accepted by developers, he said.

Some other issues related to the policy such as parity in development charges for colonies located within and outside the city limits, waiver of interest on unpaid dues under previous policies and formation of a state property board to bridge the gap between the stake holders and the regulatory bodies were also being addressed by the government, he added.