Govt. introduces one-time regularisation scheme for unauthorised buildings

The Town and Country Planning Department has introduced a scheme to regularise unauthorised buildings and those buildings constructed in deviation to the sanctioned plan as a one-time measure after paying a regularisation fee

In what could provide a major bonanza to government treasury and relief to property buyers, the Town and Country Planning Department has introduced a scheme to regularise unauthorised buildings and those constructed in deviation to the sanctioned plan as a one-time measure after paying a regularisation fee.

The scheme is an after-effect of The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act or RERA introduced by the Central government in 2017 to regulate and standardise the real estate sector in the country. Prior to the introduction of the Act, the real estate sector was unregulated which gave room for many violations, putting buyers at the receiving end.

The Act mandated the registration of all real estate projects,if the land to be developed was more than five hundred square metres or the number of flats exceeded eight. As the Central Act came into effect retrospectively, many projects that were under-construction or completed missed the deadline for registration because of the stringent guidelines enshrined in the Act.

“Several buildings, including apartment blocks, failed to get registered under RERA. Many buyers could not get possession of their building though they continued to pay EMIs of loan taken. Several States including neighbouring Tamil Nadu had notified rules to regularise unauthorised buildings as a one-time measure a few years ago. We have also issued a notification on September 12 introducing the scheme,” an official told The Hindu.

As per the notification, the “number of unauthorised buildings was huge and demolition of all such constructions was not practical.” The destruction of such buildings would cause “social disruption.” However, the general public are free to submit their objections or suggestions within a period of 30 days from the time of notification to the Chief Town Planner, Town and Country Planning Department, the notification said.

Those seeking regularisation of their buildings should apply online along with necessary documents, including proof of fee payment (a non-refundable fee of ₹5,000 for ordinary residential buildings and ₹10,000 for others), floor plans, elevations and sections of the buildings constructed, the site plan, building plan, and wherever applicable, the service and parking plans as provided in the Puducherry Building Bye-laws and Zoning Regulations and specifications thereafter, the notification said.

The Planning Authority Committee would examine the application to find whether the building has minimum safety and security provisions such as clearance from overhead electric lines, availability of minimum width of road, parking facilities, facilities for persons with disabilities, fire escape staircases, lift, provisions for waste disposal, solar-assisted water heating and lighting systems.