M A I N   N E W S

One-time settlement scheme
Bonanza for building bylaws violators in Punjab
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 11
The Punjab Council of Ministers today approved a one-time voluntary disclosure and settlement scheme for the building bylaws violations in the urban areas. The Local Bodies Department has been asked to prepare the modalities of settlement for circulation among the municipal committees.

Various municipal committees had been involved in prolonged litigation with bylaws violators. Thousands of such cases were pending in various courts. Certain charges would be taken from the violators for regularisation of the violations.

They would be asked to submit a detailed declaration with regard to the violations. All violations made till today would be regularised. After this date, buildings violating the bylaws would be demolished.

Though it is not clear from the official statement, certain disputed encroachments on municipal land in the urban areas are also expected to be regularised. Sources said municipal land in various towns had been in illegal possession for the past several years. Litigation had been going on in this connection.

The Council of Ministers also approved re-fixation of the price of evacuee land in rural areas at the time of regularisation of unauthorised occupation. An official spokesman said the price to be paid would be 15 per cent and 10 per cent of the market value fixed by the respective District Collectors as on April 1 for the general category and the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and backward classes, respectively. The payment would have to be made in four equal bi-monthly instalments. The last date for submission of the applications in this connection had been extended till December 31.

The Council of Ministers also reduced the lumpsum tax on cinema houses by 33 per cent and gave an option to the cinema owners either to pay the tax in lumpsum or to pay entertainment duty on an actual basis. The meeting also decided to amend the Punjab Entertainment Tax (Cinematograph Show) Act, 1954, through an ordinance.

The council also approved to merge PCMS (II) and PCMS (I) as one cadre. There would now be only one service i.e. PCMS (1) comprising the generalist and specialist cadres. There would be direct recruitment to all posts except those of Director, Additional Director, Joint Director and Deputy Director, Health Services. The government may fill any vacancy by transfer or deputation of any official already in service of the Union or state governments.

All promotions except for the post of Deputy Director would be made by selection on the basis of merit-cum-seniority. The post of Deputy Director is to be filled on a seniority-cum-merit basis.