Date:28/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/28/stories/2008062853540600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Building Penalisation Scheme in A.P. to lapse after July 15

Special Correspondent

YSR believed to have said that adequate time had been given

Deadline extended 3 times after representations
Heavier penalties for regularisation, after July 15

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh government has given a call to end on July 15 the one-time opportunity given to regulate unauthorised building constructions/deviations throughout the State.

Though the deadline for the Building Penalisation Scheme (BPS) as per GO 901 dated December 31, 2007 under the Compulsory Disclosure Scheme was to end on June 30, the government decided to extend it by 15 days and also give a notice for closure of the scheme.

The Chief Minister is believed to have categorically told the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department that the BPS should close on July 15 as adequate time had been given to applicants to get their unauthorised constructions regularised.

The deadline for BPS was extended three times earlier in view of representations from public and also confusion prevailing among applicants about the case pending in the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

With this, all assumptions about more extensions for BPS would be put to rest and it would apply to all the unauthorised constructions in the Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Warangal urban development authorities and 134 municipal corporations and municipalities.

After the deadline, heavier penalties would be imposed for regularisation besides other enforcement measures including demolition.

The amount realised so far under the BPS and Layout Regulation Scheme was Rs. 450 crore as people paid part of the penalty along with the application.