The Punjab Council of Ministers (CoM) has in-principle decided to lower/rationalise circle/collectorate rates, while reducing stamp duty on registration of property in urban areas, in order to give an impetus to the real estate sector in the state.Chairing a CoM meeting here, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh directed a formal proposal on reduction in circle/collectorate rates to be presented in the next cabinet meeting, with the DCs to be instructed to formulate the new circle rates. Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said he was already working on the proposal and would present in the next meeting for consideration.To boost the languishing real estate sector in the state, the cabinet on Friday also gave approval to reduction in stamp duty on the registration of property in urban areas from 9% to 6% till March 31, 2018.According to a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office, the cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, decided to remove the 3% additional stamp duty chargeable as Social Security Fund for this period through an amendment to Section 3-C and schedule 1-B of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, as announced by the Finance Minister in his Budget speech in the state assembly.In another important decision to propel the reality segment, the CoM also decided to grant exemption from 10% increase in Change of Land Use (CLU), External Development Charges (EDC) and License Fee (LF)/Permission Fee from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2020 for real estate projects.
The cabinet also in principle agreed to lower/rationalise circle/collectorate rates, which it felt was essential to give an impetus to the real estate sector.Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said he was already working on the matter and would soon bring in a formal proposal for consideration.The CoM also approved a new Marriage Palace Policy for regularization of unauthorized marriage palaces, besides granting approval for construction of new marriage palaces across the state. The new policy replaces the earlier marriage palace policies framed by the previous government, from time to time, on November 16, 2012, January 7, 2013, November 17, 2015 and August 16, 2016, to ensure regularization of marriage palaces constructed before November 16, 2012.The new policy is also aimed at facilitating construction of new marriage palaces, thereby mitigating the problems faced by owners of marriage palaces, besides ensuring safety and parking facility for the people gathering at such venues. The cabinet decided to condone violations in building bylaws to the extent of 10 per cent.