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BRS cases in city get a fresh lease of life

HYDERABAD: There is some good news at last for applicants of the now defunct Building Regularisation Scheme (BRS). The government has finally taken a decision announcing that penal amounts paid then would be adjusted with the present penal fee. But fresh applications have to be filed under the present Compulsory Disclosure Scheme (CDS).

S.P. Singh, Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department, issued an official memo clarifying several doubts expressed by the general public regarding CDS to regularise unauthorised buildings and layouts through penal fee payment.

It was made clear that regularisation was not possible under BRS since it has been repealed. But payments made earlier can be used to calculate the current fee while related documentation as well as revised plan has to be submitted. Owners of flats or portion in a high rise building (of more than 18 metres height) will have to file the application and also obtain a ‘no objection certificate’ from the Fire Services.

As per CDS rules, all constructions which have been completed (slab laid) before December15, 2007, are eligible for applying for regularisation. For commercial buildings built without any permission, penal charges will be doubled against the usual charges levied on buildings converted into commercial use illegally.

Significantly, the senior official also said that plots need not be regularised under Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS) where permissions have already been granted in unauthorised layouts on payment of requisite penal charges. The government has refused to modify the minimum road width for layouts from the prevailing 30 ft as requested in some quarters for regularisation.

It was also decided to allow plot holders with registered general power of attorney to be eligible for regularisation under LRS. For now, land conversion charges are being levied while comprehensive change of land use proposals will be required to be submitted at a later date.

Mr. Singh asserted that constructions in the space earmarked for parking like in cellars or stilt will not be considered for regularisation. Same goes with buildings constructed in deviation of the sanctioned plan under the common building rules (GO 86). It was already clarified that layout owners have to make separate application for approval of the unsold portion and only plots sold to individuals will be considered for regularisation.

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