Manual building plans not to be accepted from today

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 15

Manual building plans would not be accepted from Wednesday. The Department of Local Government, Punjab, introduced the system of online building plan approval last year but the applications for manual building plans were also being accepted till now.

Amarpreet Bal, Town Planner, Department of Local Government, said the manual maps would not be accepted after January 15. The building plans can be submitted online for approval as per procedure now.

A large number of buildings are constructed either without approval of building plans or against the approved plans every year in Ludhiana. Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu had introduced the online system to curb the menace of illegal constructions in the areas under municipal corporations and committees.

Chairman of Indian Institute of Architects, Punjab Chapter, Sanjay Goel said the professionals had been given training for online building approval system. “It is good to see that there will be no more manual submission of building plans. We are very hopeful that the online system will remain successful as manual submission of building plans will not be allowed any more. The online system will also help curb corruption in the building branch,” he said.

Another architect said the authorities must ensure proper functioning of the online map approval system to avoid any kind of confusion. “The MC must display procedure for applying online building plans at all its offices. Information should also be provided on its official website. More training workshops should be organised for those professionals who are eligible to apply for online building maps,” he said.

Notably, the members of Council of Engineers had earlier demanded from the government to conduct more training workshops for civil engineers so that they can learn the method of submitting online building plans.

Assistant Town Planner of Zone B Pardeep Sehgal said the online system had reduced paper work. They would not accept any manual plan, adding that they have also stopped approving manual plans under the ‘Saral’ scheme.

Senior Deputy Mayor Sham Sundar Malhotra said: “Earlier, the people had to wait for a long period to get their building plans approved through the manual system. With the introduction of the online system, people can get their building plans approved in a short time. It is a good decision of the local government.”

Need to hold more training workshops

"The Ludhiana Municipal Corpoation must display procedure for applying online building plans at all its offices. Information should also be provided on its official website. More training workshops should be organised for those professionals who are eligible to apply for online building maps." An architect

An easy process

"We appeal to all residents to get building plans approved as the online system is a very easy process. We will display procedure at all MC offices." Mayor