Indian Express 31.08.2009
In October, GMADA to resume plots lying vacant for over eight years
The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) will begin resumption proceedings against vacant plots in October, if the allottees whose plots have been lying vacant for over 8 years since their allotment in Mohali fail to avail of the last chance given to them to build their plots.
Under the last chance, the allottees are required to submit their building plans for approval latest by September 30, before constructing their plots till December 31, failing which resumption proceedings under the provisions of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995, would be initiated to resume the vacant plots, said the GMADA Estate Officer.
The development assumes significance as the owners (who were allotted plots over 8 years ago) were given time till June 30 to get their building plans approved. Keeping in view the demand of hundreds of such allottees, who failed to avail of the earlier benefit, the state government has decided to extend the time limit of submitting the building plans till September 30
GMADA authorities said this would be the “final opportunity” and if the allottees failed to complete the “minimum required construction of a single dwelling unit” till December 31, their vacant plots would be resumed without serving any further notice.
In June, the state government had extended the deadline for constructing the plots till December 31. Earlier, a one-year extension had been granted thrice for constructing vacant plots, which were allotted in or before 1998.
The construction time limit of the plots allotted in or before 1998 had expired in December 2006, when it was extended for a year till December 2007 and again another one-year extension was accorded twice on the persistent demand of vacant plot owners across the state.
The last extension had expired on December 31, 2008, following which the vacant plot owners were up in arms after receiving resumption notices, which now stand withheld.
According to the allotment policy in Punjab, the allottees are required to build their plots within 8 years of the allotment.
Since a large number of plots saw little or no construction, even after expiry of their construction period, the state government had for the first time given a one-year extension in 2006.
After the expiry of their maximum construction period in January 2007, lakhs of vacant plot owners across the state were issued resumption notices by the Punjab Urban Development and Planning Authority (PUDA) in most parts of Punjab. In Mohali, the resumption notices were issued by GMADA.
Following the receipt of resumption notices, the vacant plot owners were a worried lot and most of them had either sold off their plots in much lesser consideration than the prevailing market price or were contemplating the same for fear of resumption. .
