The UT administration on Tuesday decided to amend the Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulation) Act, 1952, to reduce the penalty being charged by the estate office for misuse and violation of building bylaws.
The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by UT adviser Dharam Pal. They have decided to amend the act and will put a draft in public domain and invite suggestions and objections from public, Pal told TOI. Later, the case will be sent to the ministry of home affairs (MHA) for getting approval from the cabinet, he added.
Sources said there will be area-wise calculation of penalty for misuse and building violation instead of covering entire building in the violation. Besides, amendment in the act will also give legal backing to the UT, sources added.
Recently, the secretary, estate, UT, had written to the MHA to give powers to the UT administrator to decide on the quantum of penalty for misuse of building bylaws. In a proposal submitted to the MHA nearly two years ago, the UT had recommended to fix the penalty at 0.75 per cent of the minimum collector rate per square yard per month for misuse and violation.
At present, the administration is charging a penalty ranging from Rs 225 per sq ft to Rs 355 per sq ft per month for various types of properties.
The estate office had increased the penalty for misuse and violation in 2007 from Rs 20 to Rs 500 per sq ft per month for the area being misused by the occupier under the Estate Office Rules, 2007.