ULBs can regularise plots in unauthorised colonies

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, October 20

To provide relief to people desirous of getting their residential plots in unauthorised colonies regularised, the competent authority has conferred powers upon the executive officers of urban local bodies (ULBs), including municipal committees, municipal councils and nagar panchayats, to issue NOCs to the applicants on a payment of stipulated composition fee.

Earlier, all such property owners had to submit their applications to the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), which necessitated avoidable inconvenience, visits to the district headquarter and at times, harassment also.

As per an official memo, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Urban Development) authorised all executive officers (EOs) in Ludhiana district to regularise residential plots up to 200 square yards in unauthorised colonies.

“In continuation of the notification of the Housing and Urban Development, Punjab (dated October 18, 2018) and office endorsements (dated February 12, 2019 and April 2, 2019), by virtue of powers bestowed upon him, all EOs of the local bodies in the towns in this district are authorised to regularise residential plots up to 200 square yards in unauthorised colonies,” read a letter issued by the Additional Deputy Commissioner.

The latest set of directions, though, have opened a can of worms as the Punjab and Haryana High Court had earlier directed the state government not to compound (regularise) plots and properties falling in unlicensed and illegal colonies.

During telephonic conversation with Ludhiana Tribune ADC (Urban Development) confirmed that these directions pertained only to GLADA approved and licensed colonies.

“Nowhere in the said letter has the word ‘unauthorised colonies’ been mentioned,” he asserted.

He also said that as per the HC directions, GLADA authorities were not issuing NOCs to plots and properties in illegal colonies for the time being.

Both the property developers and property owners in unlicensed colonies of the city were feeling cheated over the dual policy being adopted by GLADA.

“While those owning residential plots in unlicensed colonies of the city are being denied composition of their plots/properties, those in small towns in the same district are being given the benefit of getting their plots or properties regularised through municipal committees, municipal councils or nagar panchayats,” said a plot owner, who had been unsuccessfully visiting GLADA office to get an NOC.