Unauthorised constructions to be regularised

CHANDIGARH, July 17: All residential buildings constructed unauthorisedly in Shimla town before December 1996 would be regularised. Reten...

CHANDIGARH, July 17: All residential buildings constructed unauthorisedly in Shimla town before December 1996 would be regularised. Retention of only two extra storyes would be permitted and all illegal storeys beyond sixth storey would be demolished.

According to new policy framed by the state government on regularisation of illegal buildings, no illegal building constructed after the cut-off date of December 31, 1996, would be regularised. Encroachments on the neighbouring land or blockade of common paths would depend upon availability of the space.

The owners of the buildings would be required to pay Rs. 5000 as minimum fee to seek regularisation of the building of retention of the extra-stories. For retention of first extra storey, the owners would be required to pay a fine at the rate of Rs. 200 per square feet and Rs. 400 per square feet for second extra-storey. The fine would go to the accounts of Urban Development Fund, which the government proposes to set up under the policy. 8220;Any additional storey would have to be demolished,8221; says the policy.

The new policy says the government would strictly enforce the norms on height of the buildings, and violators would be asked to pay the cost of demolition of the storeys above permissible heights.

On coverage of space, the policy envisaged that up to 50 per cent deviation in set-back would be permitted subject to condition that owner would pay towards 8220;Urban Development Fund UDF an amount at the rate of Rs. 100 per sq.ft of the area deviated. Further if the building had been constructed over other land, the builder would pay to the owner the cost of the land at market rate or mutually decided. The portion of the land would be got transferred through revenue authority.

The Country and Town Planning Department has also laid policy for under-size plots where building had been constructed. Plots measuring one and half biswas and above and purchased by the owner would be considered for retention. Plots below one and half biswas would not be considered. The owner would also pay Rs. 5000 towards the Urban Development Fund in lieu of retention.

Shops-houses built by allotees under any government schemes would be considered for retention irrespective of the size of the plot. Such retention would be allowed without any contribution towards the UDF.

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Those who had approved maps 8211; plans and have deviated from such plans would also be considered for retention subject to adherence to the various clauses of the policy.

It has also been decided that in cases where electricity supply and water supply stand released, but no proper plan stands approved or NOC issued by the Town and Country Planning Department or otherwise retention would be allowed to the clauses.

The UDF under the policy would be used to provide various facilities in the areas where unauthorised buildings have come up and also on other areas where such buildings also existed.