Building plan violators asked to approach registered architects

Ludhiana: For applying under the one-time voluntary disclosure and settlement of building constructed in violation of building byelaws, residents will have to approach registered architects only. Like online building plan approvals, architects will upload applications of violators on the municipal site e-Naksha. Civic authorities claimed that since there were directions to receive only online applications, residents will have to approach architects first, and then MC officials will verify those applications for granting approval. Payments will also be received online.
MC officials had already received around 22 applications from various defaulters from whom the MC is expecting to receive Rs16.5 crore, but officials have been asked to upload all these applications online. The policy was notified on March 5, and almost after a delay of one month, the facility for receiving applications was started through e-Naksha. However, not many architects are aware of the fact that even OTS (one-time settlement) applications will be uploaded through them, but MC officials claimed they were creating awareness regarding the service.

MC commissioner KP Brar said: “We have already started receiving applications, but since it is a completely online system, people must come through architects. People have enough time to disclose their violations, and they should start applying.”

Meanwhile, assistant town planner (headquarters) SS Bindra said: “The facility is available now, and people should consult authorized architects who will upload the application, and then they will start their verification as to whether the person has fulfilled all the conditions, and only then will approval be given. He said everything would be done in a transparent manner.”

City-based architect Sanjay Goel, one of the directors of Ludhiana Smart City Limited (LSCL), said: “When architects upload applications, they will check whether everything is according to law, and it will also avoid uploading of wrong information by the public.” He said when architects are authorized for online building plans, then they can check violations as well.

Notably, the scheme is only for regularization of structures constructed on or before 30 June 2018. For residential buildings, the composition fee will be Rs300 per square feet of total non-compoundable area on all the floors, and for commercial buildings, the composition fee will be Rs1,000 per square feet of non-compoundable area on all the floors. People will have to make necessary fire safety, structural safety, and parking arrangements within two months from the date of submission of application.