FCC

Gujarat: period for filing applications extended

2023-03-01

A measure to regularise unauthorised projects in metropolitan areas by charging "impact fees" to owners was approved by the Gujarat Assembly on Monday. The bill also gave the government the authority to extend the deadline for submitting applications to regularise unauthorised constructions.

The "Gujarat Regularisation of Unauthorised Development (Amendment) Bill, 2023" was sponsored by the Aam Aadmi Party, which has five MLAs in the 182-member House, but it was passed by a majority vote of BJP lawmakers because the opposition Congress declined to lend its support.

According to the bill's text, "The Gujarat Regularisation of Unauthorised Development (Amendment) Bill, 2023" was introduced to provide the government more time to submit applications to regularise unauthorised building.

The bill replaced an ordinance issued by the previous BJP government in October for the regularisation of unauthorised structures in cities and towns, which became an Act after Governor Acharya Devvrat granted his assent.

On payment of a "impact fee," the Act allows for the regularisation of illegal buildings within the purview of municipal corporations, urban development bodies, and municipalities.