The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to regularise buildings with up to 99 per cent deviations, however, it did not relax the ‘green-area’ ban in Shimla.
The state cabinet in its meeting has decided to grant relief to those who had constructed buildings after getting necessary approvals but caused deviations during such constructions. However, no relief has been provided to those who had constructed buildings without getting necessary approvals.
On the issue of granting relaxation in the ban imposed on the green areas, the cabinet decided to undertake an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) of all the plots, which the residents had purchased before 2000 – the year the ban was imposed.
The cabinet also directed the chief secretary to file an affidavit in the high court informing about the state’s proposal to allow constructions in the green belt for those who had bought their plots before 2000.
Himachal Pradesh BJP unit has welcomed Govt’s decision to give major relief to the affected house owners. Party spokesperson Ganesh Dutt has said that BJP Govt has fulfilled its all poll promises. He said that during the MC election CM had promised to regularised the unauthorized building and as promised Govt has fulfilled it. Dutt also welcomed Govt initiative to present bill to amend the land ceiling law for religious organisations and added that if it passed it will fulfill religious sects’ long pending demand to allow them to buy land in excess of the upper limit.
