Conversion policy may not get extension beyond Sept 18

8220;As such, the infrastructure in Industrial Area is not adequate to meet the needs of the ongoing commercial projects. If more industrial plots get converted to commercial ones, it would lead to serious infrastructure-related problems,8221; said an official.

More than 47 industrial plots have already been converted to commercial complexes. While many shopping malls and multi-storey office complexes are under construction, a mall-cum-multiplex 8212; Centra Mall 8212; has already started functioning. With the area already coping with the lack of parking space, one of the major roadblocks in its development, and narrow roads, any more commercial project is going to choke it further.

As of Sunday, there are around 50 applications pending with the UT Administration, in which industrialists have expressed their willingness to get their industrial plots converted into commercial. 8220;By paying the conversion fee, the industrialists can use their properties in a better manner and also enhance the value of the plot,8221; said another senior official.

UT Home-cum-Finance Secretary Sanjay Kumar said: 8220;I have called a meeting with the industries associations on September 15 where we will discuss these issues. There is no doubt that more commercial activities will increase pressure on the infrastructure and our effort will be to consolidate and provide for sufficient infrastructure. After the meeting, the Administration will firm up its view on a further extension. Any decision will be to strengthen partnership between the Administration and the industrialists for betterment and consolidation of adequate infrastructure.8221;

The Administration had launched the conversion scheme in 2005, with a motive to spruce up the Industrial Area and develop it into a commercial hub. The plots measuring two kanals or above were made eligible for the change of land use from industrial to commercial on payment of certain charges. The industrialists, however, had been raising several issues from time to time for and against the clauses in the conversion policy.

Three years of conversion policy
2005:UT Administration formulated the policy for industrialists, giving them an option to convert industrial plots to commercial by paying a certain conversion fee.

September 18, 2007:A joint forum of the Industrialists8217; Association of Chandigarh, Federation of Small Scale Industries and Chamber of Chandigarh Industries made a representation to the UT Administration, seeking extension of the conversion policy for two more years. They got an extension of six months, till March 18, 2008.

February 1, 2008:Policy amended by doing away with the 15-year-old restriction on the sale and transfer of property. Though the Estate Office had objected to such an amendment, the finance department went ahead with the decision.

June 26:The UT Administrator assured to review the decision on allowing change of land use of plots measuring less than 2 kanals.

September 8:Another amendment made to the policy, according to which two or more adjoining industrial plots allotted under less than two kanals category could also be considered for conversion if after the amalgamation of these plots, with the permission of the competent authority, the measurement added up to 2 kanals or more.