Mann announces policy for relief to residents of unauthorised colonies

Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday announced that the Punjab govt will formulate a comprehensive state-wide policy to "permanently resolve" long-pending issues faced by citizens who have invested their savings in unauthorised property plots across the state.Mann said that strict legal action would be initiated against unscrupulous colonisers, while the Punjab govt would provide relief to affected residents through a uniform policy. "The relief package and policy being prepared will not be restricted to cities like Ludhiana or Patiala. It will be implemented uniformly across the entire state of Punjab so that every affected citizen receives justice," he said.During deliberations with residents of such colonies, Mann said that thousands of "innocent buyers" across Punjab were suffering because of the actions of colonisers, who sold plots in unauthorised colonies and left people to face legal and infrastructural problems. "Innocent families invested their life savings in plots, only to later discover that they could neither sell the land nor get registries done. They were also deprived of basic facilities such as electricity, water and sewerage connections. These people are victims and deserve justice," he added.Mann added, "Fraudulent colonisers lured people with attractive brochures and false promises. They sold plots, pocketed the profits and walked away, leaving ordinary citizens to deal with the consequences. At the time of sale, they concealed the fact that electricity meters, roads and sewerage connections could not be sanctioned in these colonies." Mann said the state govt will protect the interests of innocent citizens who invested their savings due to a lack of awareness. He further informed that a dedicated meeting with senior officials would soon be convened to examine the suggestions received from citizens and review all pending legal and financial issues linked to unauthorised colonies. "We will carefully consider the concerns and suggestions put forward by residents so that a practical and long-term solution can be developed," he added.Urging people to exercise caution while purchasing property in the future, he said, "Before investing in any real estate project, buyers must conduct proper verification and ensure that the project has been approved by the competent authorities such as PUDA, GMADA or GLADA." MSID: 131638006 413 |