AHMEDABAD: The Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (Auda) has started issuing refunds to developers and property owners on various town planning schemes in Bopal from whom it had collected excess charges.
These charges were levied in cases where Auda could not deduct the entire 40% land as mandated under the Town Planning Act. The lesser deductions had happened since development had already taken place on some under the Bopal TP schemes 1,2 and 3. Later, Auda decided to collect fees based on the final plot valuation and not jantri rates.
At its Board meeting in June, the body decided to refund any excess amount it has collected from builders. As it begins implementing the policy decision, Auda has refunded one developer and will cover other builders and property owners as well in the coming days.
A source in the urban development body said, “When Auda drafted three TP schemes covering the Bopal area a decade ago, most of the land had already been developed. Which meant that the mandated 40% land deduction as decided in the three schemes could not be obtained. Bopal’s TP scheme number 3 covered 297.93 hectares, with 230 final plots allocated against 249 original plots. Here, 13.84% land deduction was obtained against the standard of 40%.
Similarly, in Bopal’s TP scheme number 2, 150 hectares were covered, with 215 final plots allocated against 193 original plots. Here, 15.90% land deduction was obtained.
In TP scheme number 1, a draft was made for 103.95 hectares, and 75 final plots were allocated against 91 original plots. In this TP scheme, 29.96% land deduction was obtained against the standard of 40%.”
The source added, “The state govt approved the drafts of these TP schemes. Auda received a deduction of 10% or 20% in cases where development had already occurred on original plots. Hence, it was decided to collect money against the non-deductible land in all cases where deduction was less than 40%. For this, Auda officials at that time collected amounts determined according to jantri rates.”
The official said that as the amount collected was way higher than the value of the land itself, developers filed complaints and demanded a refund.
A policy decision has been made to refund the excess charges to the developer in one case. At the June board meeting, it was decided that while granting development permission in Bopal’s TP scheme numbers 1 and 3, calculation of funds for final plots with less deductions would be done based on plot’s valuation rather than jantri rates. Any excess amount collected in cases where the calculation was based on jantri rates is to be now refunded. The amount to be refunded will be calculated based on plot valuation.
Additionally, if redevelopment occurs in the future, development permission will be granted with the condition of a 40% land deduction.
