PUNJAB TO LAUNCH SPECIAL POLICY FOR AFFORDABLE COLONIES-VINI MAHAJAN

         ALL MASTER PLANS TO BE MADE ONLINE IN 2018

         e-APPROVAL FOR LICENSES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF COLONIES WILL BE STARTED THIS YEAR

Chandigarh, January 1:  

 Punjab Government is all set to prepare a special policy for Affordable Colonies in next two months based on small size plots and housing at reasonable rates so as to provide house to all with basic amenities in urban areas.

This was stated by Additional Chief Secretary Housing and Urban Development Vini Mahajan while interacting with media persons here at Punjab Bhawan on Monday.

Listing several landmark initiatives being taken and implemented by the Housing and Urban Development Department since April 2017, Mrs. Mahajan said that the vision of the department as articulated by the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh was to ensure availability of affordable housing and required urban spaces for commerce and industry etc. to all the citizens of the State.

Divulging details of steps taken by the department to improve its functioning and providing flawless services, Mrs. Mahajan informed that e-CLU service had been launched recently under which Lalru master plan was taken on pilot basis besides initiation of e-auction across all Authorities vis-à-vis launch of Revenue based Master plans and an exclusive app to keep tab on Illegal colonies and Illegal Construction. She said that PUDA Mobile App had also been started besides Implementation of 'First In First Out' Service in Estate Offices of Authorities

          These initiatives will be further taken forward in the year 2018. All the Master Plans in the State will be made online and e-CLU will be started in all these Master Plans. In addition, e-approval for licenses for development of colonies will be started this year. Online Building Plan approval will also be undertaken in the year 2018, she added.

          Mrs. Mahajan said that the Department had started the Punjab Shehri Awas Yojana-2017 under which applications were received in all towns in the State, which would be verified and final list be prepared in the next 3 months thereafter construction of houses and grant of benefits will start in 2018, which would be launched by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Republic Day.

          The comprehensive policy for regularization of illegal colonies is under consideration of the government and will be finalized within next 2 months. This will ensure that those citizens who have taken plots in such colonies are able to witness basic services. It will also be ensured that further colonization take place only in a planned fashion so that all required amenities are provided in the colonies by the colonizers. She informed that this matter was under consideration of Cabinet sub-committee headed by Health Minister Mr. Brahm Mohindra and decision in this regard would be taken soon on the basis of recommendations and suggestions of the sub-committee. 

          The policy for marriage palaces is already under implementation and full compliance will be ensured in the year 2018. Special policies for rental affordable housing for students, labor and senior citizens will be put in place in the next 3 months. New unified building rules are under preparation and will be notified before March 31, 2018, she informed.

          The Development Authorities will speed up efforts to provide quality, affordable housing and commercial sites all over the state. 24x7 water supply, smart water meters, promotion of Solar power, use of Tertiary treated water, rain water harvesting and green cover will be ensured. It will also be ensured that services by the Estate Office and other offices of the Development Authorities are given in a time bound and hassel free manner. New Special Development Authority is going to come up at Anandpur Sahib for better development of that area, said Mrs Mahajan.  

Giving details about the proposed Convention centers, Mrs. Mahajan said that the convention centers at Mohali, Ludhiana and Amritsar would be undertaken in PPP mode. The process to get land for expansion of about 4000 acres of land near the International Airport under land pooling policy has already been initiated. Similarly land pooling will be encouraged in other authorities as well. An IT University is proposed in Mohali over an area of 50 acres, she added.

It was also informed that the State Government had set up the Real Estate Regulatory Authority, which will ensure that grievances of citizens with regard to various colonization are speedily addressed and the functioning of the real estate sector become more transparent and trustworthy.

Prominent amongst those present in the meeting included Secretary Revenue Deepinder Singh, Special Secretary Housing and Urban Development Kamal Kishore Yadav, Chief Administrator PUDA Ravi Bhagat, OSD Legal Paramjit Singh and Advisor Punjab Land Record Society NS Sangha.