Date:12/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/12/stories/2008051258620300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Uncertainty over BRS applications

Applicants await Government orders

About 26,000 people had applied for BRS in 1997
Authorities have cleared 13,000 applications

HYDERABAD: If response for the Compulsory Disclosure Scheme (CDS) has been overwhelming, uncertainty continues with regard to the pending cases filed during old Building Regularisation Scheme (BRS).

Though the government is said to be favourable towards adjusting penal amounts paid during that time (a decade ago), official orders are yet to come. With less than 20 days remaining for the CDS to close, old BRS applicants are not sure which way to go.

Poll code?

It is not known if the election code is preventing issuing such orders but one argument is that the penalisation process has been on for the last four months and hence, code does not apply. Earlier, those approaching municipal officials were told to apply afresh and “forget” about previous payments.

Of late, they are being told to pay 50 per cent of the penal fee calculated under CDS and remaining amount will be intimated later. What about those who claim to have paid the entire amount then? “I have been requesting municipal officials to check my papers but they have been unable to trace my file,” sighed a senior citizen.

The twists and turns which the old BRS took then has also resulted in files getting buried somewhere, maybe even quite difficult to trace, admit officials. About 26,000 had applied for BRS in 1997 of which 13,000 were cleared. Seven thousand applications were returned for not submitting proper documents or not making proper payments.

Four thousand of them pertain to high rise buildings requiring clearance from Fire Services and Airports Authority of India. There are 2,000 remaining applications which can be processed. About 194 individual buildings cases filed then were cleared recently and intimation letters were being sent to the owners. They will only get official proceedings certificates and not occupation certificates as they pertain to BRS, said an official. Officials concede that it would have been convenient for old applicants if the government had allowed processing under CDS, adjusting the previous penal fee with the current fee. It did not happen, leading to much confusion.