The AAP government is now trying to find ways to deal with unregulated constructions, especially in cases of non-compoundable changes. The previous government had fallen back on announcing one-time settlement (OTS) schemes for building violations, but its move had failed to generate the expected response.
The present government is already planning to launch a system for the online approval of building plans under the urban local bodies (ULBs).
Punjab local bodies minister Inderbir Singh Nijjar said OTS made more sense for compoundable violations, but in the majority of cases, people had made drastic changes in approved building plans and it was not possible to regularise them.
“We are brainstorming on how to deal with non-compoundable offences, while ensuring that fresh violations are not allowed in cities. The issue is being looked into, whether minor relaxations in existing rules can be made to ensure buildings are brought under the preview of bylaws. OTS schemes for compoundable violations are offered from time to time,” he added.
The previous Congress government had tried to mop up additional revenue by offering an OTS for non-compoundable building violations. Under the policy, illegal buildings that sprung up before June 30, 2018, were to be regularised.
But, after it failed to generate an encouraging response, it was decided to tweak the policy to make it more popular in 2020. It followed the cabinet approving ‘The Punjab One-Time Voluntary Disclosure and Settlement of Violations of the Buildings Ordinance, 2018’ for all buildings constructed in violation of building bylaws in municipal areas.
The local government department had, in fact, offered a series of OTS schemes in the past – for recovery of arrears of water and sewerage changes under ULBs by waiving interest and penalty, recovery of property tax and one for chronic defaulters of dues of principal cost of industrial plots located in focal points developed by the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC) and Punjab Infotech.
