LUCKNOW: In a decision which may affect thousands of families staying in urban centres of Uttar Pradesh, the housing department has discontinued regularization of the portion of a property constructed in violation of building bylaws.
No compounding of additional built area than what has been sanctioned will be allowed.
The decision came after the Allahabad high court issued directives to the state to discontinue the practice of regularising the unauthorised portion that violates the building bylaws.
All this while, compounding of additional area built on a plot was being done according to the self-assessment compounding scheme introduced in 1997.
Taking note of the high court’s order, additional chief secretary, housing department, Nitin Ramesh Gokarn on Mar 28 asked the vice-chairmen of 29 development authorities to permit construction on a plot only in accordance with the sanctioned building map and ensure no deviation is allowed on a plot.
Decided as per the circle rate of an area, so far development authorities were taking up cases of compounding to regularise up to 40% increased construction on the front setback and an additional 10% on the rear side after taking charges from property owners. Similarly, 25% of the side setback was allowed to be compounded while basement was also regularised upon payment of charges.
A senior officer from the department said that nearly 1,800 cases of compounding were disposed of by the 29 development authorities in the state during the 2023-24 financial year and Rs 200 crore was generated as compounding fees. In Lucknow alone, the development authority dealt with 156 cases of compounding of additional area and collected Rs 22.5 crore through applicants as charges while regularising additionally created space during 2023-24.
Officials said that while following the directives of the high court, the legal cell of the state govt is examining the order.
“We will take a call whether to file a review petition or challenge the order once we get the opinion of legal experts,” the officer said.
