Plots in illegal colonies to be regularised, amendment Bill in next Assembly session

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 28

In a major relief to thousands of people having plots in illegal colonies, the state government will bring a legislation in the forthcoming Assembly session to amend the Punjab Apartment and property Regulation Act (PAPRA) Act, 1995, paving the way for regularising the plots purchased by July 31, 2024.

Officials aware of the matter said, the relief would, however, be restricted to plots measuring up to 500 sq yd. A mechanism to authenticate that the sale deed of that property had been executed by the given cut-off date was being worked out.

Once the Act was amended, “no-objection certificates” (NOCs) would not be required to get such properties registered. The amendment would not allow regularisation of illegal colonies. Only the individual plots would be regularised, thereby allowing the individual plot owners to get basic civic amenities. Officially, there are over 14,000 illegal colonies in the state.

At its last meeting, the state Cabinet had given in-principal approval to do away with the NOC clause for the registration of land and property.

“The previous Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress government had brought Punjab Laws (Special Provisions for Regularisation of Unauthorised Colonies) Act, 2018, that specified that the sale agreements of such colonies or individual plots must have been executed before March 19, 2018. Now, the amendment will extend the cut-off date to July 31, 2024,” said a senior government functionary.

During the last SAD-BJP government, Punjab Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2013, was brought and amendments made in 2014 and 2016 to compound violations in illegal colonies and individual plots.

Officials said despite several meetings among officials of the Housing and Urban Development, Local Bodies and Revenue Departments, plot holders continued to face harassment for obtaining NOCs.

The department has also issued instructions to check mushrooming of illegal colonies across the state. The Chief Administrators of regional development authorities at Patiala, Bathinda, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar have been asked to submit quarterly reports regarding new unauthorised colonies, details of action taken against the colonisers and erring officials, if any.

Key conditions

• The plot must have been purchased by July 31, 2024
• The plot area should not be more than 500 sq yards