The Punjab Government today gave its nod to the amended building bylaws formulated to regulate the construction of cinemas, floor area ratio (FAR) as per the area of approved cinema site and width of the road.Disclosing this here today, the Punjab Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi said that these rules would be applicable for any approved cinema hall, under the Punjab Cinema Act 1952, converting to multiplex situated in the municipal boundary. He said that in cities, whose master plan has been notified, these rules would be applicable on those cinema halls, which have been as it is adjusted/accommodated in the notified master plan. Joshi further said that considering the economic slowdown, the department has decided to ease its tax charges policy from the builders/developers.
He said that now onwards, the department to charge the builders/developers on the charge collection pattern of Housing and Urban Development Department. He further said that the builders would have to pay one time 15 per cent amount of the total charge for availing basic infrastructure facilities and the outstanding amount could be paid in 10 easy instalments with interest. He said that now the builders can mortgage/hypothecate their buildings besides bank guarantee to pay these charges in instalments. He said that to check the illegal construction, the powers of Municipal Commissioner, which has earlier been given to Assistant Town Planner, has now been shifted to Building Inspector (Technical).The Minister further said that for the welfare of the employees of municipal councils, the department has decided to create a MC welfare fund and 1 per cent amount of the property tax would be reserved for this purpose and 0.5 per cent of the payment of civil works (except O&M) would also be deducted for this fund. Mr. Joshi said that the department has also approved to create a separate Municipal Employees Welfare Fund for the welfare of class-4 employees and sewer man of urban civic bodies.