According to a communication sent by G Prakash, Commissioner of Municipal Administration, to local bodies, the decision of allowing regularization applications for plots with the penalty was taken in a recent meeting chaired by Housing Secretary S Krishnan.

Now, the plot owners, who own plots in layouts, which are either approved or received in-principle approvals can send applications. “For the applications received within six months, the plot owners would have to pay a penalty of 10% based on the regularization charges. 25% and 50% penalty will be levied for applications sent between 6 and 12 months, and after 12 months respectively,” the communication said.

Meanwhile, the housing secretary also directed the Directorate of Town and Country Planning and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority to issue in-principle approvals for layout applications, which were received before November 3, in three months and that the list of approved layouts should be published online. Regularization charges for plots in village panchayat and town panchayat are Rs 30 per sqm. For plots in municipal area (grade 1, grade 2, special and selection grade) and corporation area, the regularization charges are Rs 60 per sqm and Rs 100 per sqm.