In a bid to check the mushrooming growth of unplanned and haphazard constructions across the state, the Punjab Cabinet on Wednesday okayed a policy for regularisation of unauthorised colonies developed before 19 March, 2018.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh here on Wednesday morning.

The move will give an opportunity for regularisation to colonisers or residents who have failed to apply for either getting their unauthorised colonies regularised or un-authorised plots or buildings falling in un-authorised colonies compounded under previous policies, or whose application are pending.

Stringent action would be taken against the coloniser of a colony, which comes up after the cut-off date 19 March, 2018, and also against those who do not apply for regularisation, the Cabinet decided.

According to a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office, this policy would enable residents living in these colonies to get facilities of basic civic amenities like water supply, sewerage, electricity and road connectivity etc. Highlighting the key features of this policy, the spokesperson said unauthorised colonies developed before 19 March, 2018 shall be regularised, with regularisation charges earlier paid under the previous policies to be adjusted.

The charges thus received from the regularisation of the particular colony would be used for providing basic infrastructure to that specific colony only and payment of will be made in instalments. A Residents Welfare Association (RWA) can also submit an application for regularisation of the colony. Where there is no coloniser, creation of RWA will be mandatory.

Unauthorised colonies have been categorised into four categories viz. where up to 25 per cent plots are sold, where 25 per cent to 50 per cent plots are sold, where more than 50 per cent plots are sold and a special provision for exceptional colony having more than 75 per cent built-up area. The coloniser would be required to submit registered sale deeds within three months from the grant of provisional regularisation certificate in case sale agreements are submitted as proof of sale.

No legal action shall be initiated against the coloniser who pays full charges as per demand notice. Also, no interest shall be levied on the pending payment.