The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : BPS: steps to simplify application process

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Tuesday, Jul 08, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

BPS: steps to simplify application process

Special Correspondent

New applicants to pay 10 per cent penal fee

Help desks at all municipal circle offices to be set up
Misuse of CDS punishable, 438 buildings razed

HYDERABAD: With a week left for Building Penalisation Scheme (BPS) to close , the government has announced a series of measures to simplify the application process to attract more applicants.

New applicants just need to pay just 10 per cent of the prescribed penal fees and even if a couple of documents are not submitted, the municipal offices will accept applications, said Municipal Administration & Urban Development Principal Secretary S.P. Singh here on Monday.

Talking to presspersons during a review meeting held with GHMC planning officials, Mr. Singh, who is also the in-charge Commissioner and Special Officer, said necessary instructions were issued to the staff to be “liberal” and “helpful” with people filing their applications.

Good opportunity

“They have been told not to refuse accepting applications even if a few documents are not available. We can always call the applicants later during the processing. This is a great opportunity for people to get their illegal or unauthorised constructions to the right side of the law,” he said.

A round-the-clock call centre and help desks will be set up in all municipal circle offices. And these will also function during the weekends to assist applicants. “The scheme is for the people and it is a one-time measure to set the record straight because we cannot have a world class city with illegal structures,” he said.

Mr. Singh expressed his satisfaction over the response to the scheme in the twin cities where 1.25 lakh applications were received for buildings regularisation and 35,000 for regularisation of layouts jointly titled the Compulsory Disclosure Scheme (CDS). The government has already clarified that three more months time was available for regularisation of layouts.

Vigil

The Secretary warned that penal action will be initiated against illegal properties which are not regularised. “We are also maintaining a vigil on new constructions on misuse of CDS. The GHMC has already demolished 438 buildings and it will be intensified after July 15,” he said.

The Deputy Commissioners of all municipal circles have also been asked to issue notices to public buildings if they were built against the sanctioned plan. “Let them apply first, the government will decide on who has to be penalised later,” he said. Once the legal issue is solved, regularisation certificates will be issued in no time.

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