The Indian Express                17.04.2013

MC launches SARAL way for getting building maps passed

To simplify the process and encourage residents to get the maps of their new buildings, the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation has now launched SARAL, a one form to get passed the maps of buildings of upto 200 square yards of area.

"We studied the data of the past four years and noticed that the number of maps getting passed was decreasing year by year. To simplify the process of getting maps passed, we have launched SARAL. In this scheme, the owner just has to fill the form which has been kept very simple and even MC representative will assist him/her in filling it. They just need to give us a copy of registry of land along with an outlining sketch of proposed building along with fee," said Commissioner (Zone D) Isha Kalia.

The proposed SARAL is far simpler than the earlier way of getting maps passed which was long and tiresome. Residents had to

fill five forms A, B, C, D and E, and other technical formalities took months and thus residents avoided getting maps passed, fearing harassment.

In the SARAL form, the MC has given a box in which basic dimensions like width, height and outlining with pencil has to be made by the owner and the form then can be submitted in Suvidha Centres where representatives from all four zones will be present. The draftsman concerned will check all required information and the map will be passed in one day.

"We are simply not bothered about what is the interior of the building proposed unlike the previous process; we are only asking for basic outline. We are especially targeting small plot owners," added Kalia.

"Whenever we used to issue challan of a person with, say, 50 square yards area for building violations, he/she used to plead that they did not know technicalities but now with this simple system, there is no scope for these kinds of excuses. Having a small plot does not mean having the right to violate laws," said Kalia, adding that the form would soon be uploaded on the Internet and scheme would be operational from Wednesday onwards.

The forms would be available at all zonal offices, sub-zonal offices and Suvidha Kendras, she added.