Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today instructed all Deputy Commissioners to launch a sustained campaign to get the more than 5300 illegal colonies regularised in the state and complete this job as a ‘mission’.
Accompanied by Bhagat Chunni Lal, Local Bodies Minister, Mr. Adaish Partap Singh Kairon, Food and Civil Supplies Minister and Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Revenue Minister, Punjab, Sukhbir presiding over a meeting of all Deputy Commissioners her said that the Punjab Government has come out with a most public friendly policy that would allow the colonisers of illegal colonies to get their offences compounded and house and plot owners to get their tenements regularised with a nominal fee. He said that Punjab Government was getting series of representations from various quarters as lakhs of residents of illegal colonies were living in perpetual fear of demolition due to illegality and they were struck in limbo as they were not being able to get their properties registered in their names. He said that the illegal colonies were also facing the problem of lack of civic amenities and living in a life of hell. He said that keeping all these things in mind, the Punjab Government has enacted a new enactment to give last opportunity to the public to their irregularity regularised.
Banning the registration of all properties only in more than 5300 illegal colonies in the state, Sukhbir said that a list of illegal colonies has already been dispatched to all Deputy Commissioners. Allaying the rumours that total ban has been imposed on all registries, Sukhbir said that DCs should specifically tell the revenue authorities that registration has been banned only in property located in listed in 5300 illegal colonies and take strict action against rumour mongers.
Asking Deputy Commissioners to depute Sub pisional Magistrates to hold camps in the illegal colonies in their command area to educate public regarding the procedure adopted for regularisation, Deputy Chief Minister clarified that even if a coloniser, who was not available to get the PAPRA offence compounded, inpidual house owners can get their houses regularised inpidually. He said that this policy was applicable only to applicable unauthorised colonies/buildings constructed before 1 April 2013 and last date of submission of application was 25 August 2013 and no further extension would be given for regularisation. He said that at the time of application minimum 25% amount has to be deposited and to facilitate the public the remaining amount could be paid into 6 monthly instalments. He clarified that these rates are final, non negotiable and there would not be any reduction as these rates are part of legislation. He said that colonies not applying for regularisation before the due date should remain prepare for the punitive action.
Stressing the need for hassle free process and pro-active public friendly approach, Sukhbir said that it was the duty of Deputy Commissioner to ensure that general public was not harassed or sent from one window to another and given total cooperation in this task. He asked Deputy Commissioners to weekly monitor the regularisation process and submit the reports with Deputy CM office. Mr. Badal also asked Mr. Ashok Gupta, Secretary Local Government and Mr. Manvesh Singh Sidhu, Chief Administrator PUDA to visit all the districts and address the apprehensions of public and officials involved in the regularisation process on the spot.
The Deputy Chief Minister also reviewed the availability of mining materials in the state and asked the Deputy Commissioners for optimum working of all mines to ensure availability of sand and gravel to the public at minimum rates. He said that the contractors not operating their mines should be issued notice and their mines should be re-auctioned.
Besides Deputy Commissioners from all over the state, prominent amongst those present in the meeting Mr. Navreet Singh Kang, Officiating, Financial Commissioner Revenue, Mr. S.K. Sandhu, Principal Secretary to CM, Mr. P.S. Aujla, Principal Secretary to Deputy CM, Mr. Anirudh Tiwari, Secretary Power and Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Secretary Coordination.