Penalty increases for illegal constructions in Hyderabad
Hyderabad – Seeing the growing number of new illegal constructions or floors, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has decided the penalty as 100 percent more on normal property tax. Till now the corporation levied penalty as 25 percent on the property tax.
For example, owner of an unauthorised construction has to Rs 2000 towards property tax when the normal tax is Rs 1000. The main aim behind this new rule to increase penalty in order to stop property owners building illegal or unauthorised structures in the city. This decision is likely to be executed from April 1, 2013.
According to the GHMC sources, this rule will be applicable for all type of properties in Hyderabad such as flats, houses, assigned land and encroachments on government land. It is expected this new rule will add Rs 30 crore additional revenue to the civic body.
According to the GHMC commissioner, efforts are being taken by the body to amend the 220B section of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act. This section comprises of clause which instructs to impose 25 percent penalty on illegal structures till they are regularised or demolished. The civic body is doing so despite of the same new rule been incorporated in the New Building Rules (GO 86) issued in 2006.
As per a GHMC official, the Building Rules GO and GHMC Act are contradicting thus can be challenged in the court. Now the decision to amend the act is completely on the municipal administration and urban development (MA&UD) department.
This new rule also embraces the penalty on squatters of encroached government land or municipal land or any category of land. The illegal constructions going on government land were not assessed due to ambiguity in the GHMC Act on assessment of the encroached land. Now the squatters of encroached government land could no more enjoy the civic amenities and other facilities which resulted in loss of revenue.
The GHMC sources added that a meeting is likely to be held between chief minister and various departments like GHMC, Central Power Distribution Company Limited (CPDCL), Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS & SB) and Stamps and Registrations department to discuss on the measures to be taken to prevent unauthorised constructions.
They also discussed about the mandatory Occupancy Certificate (OC) required for the water and electricity connections in the New Building Rules. They found that only HMW &SSB was following this rule while CPDCL was not adhering to the rule. Thus corrective steps will be taken by the state government to make OC mandatory in various acts.
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