Gmada proposes Rs 800/sq yard cut in enhancement charges for sectors 76–80
2
3
Mohali: In a potential relief to over 30,000 plot allottees in sectors 76 to 80, the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (Gmada) has proposed a reduction of Rs 800 per square yard in enhancement charges.
However, the proposal awaits final approval as the state government seeks a comparative review of how other regional development authorities calculate similar charges.
The decision came during a Gmada executive committee meeting chaired by Punjab chief secretary K A P Sinha, who also heads the committee. The meeting was held at the PUDA office in Sector 62 on Thursday.
Before moving forward with the proposed reduction, chief secretary Sinha directed Vikas Garg, principal secretary of the housing and urban development department, to conduct a comparative analysis of enhancement charge models adopted by the Noida Housing Authority and Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) at Panchkula.
Enhancement charges refer to the additional compensation paid to landowners for acquired land, which is subsequently recovered from the plot allottees whose plots are carved out on that land. The contentious issue has been a longstanding concern among allottees, many of whom have questioned the rising charges and administrative delays in their calculation.
According to the agenda presented at the meeting, Gmada is currently charging Rs 3,164 per square metre (approx Rs 2,645 per square yard) and now proposes to revise it to Rs 2,364 per square metre (approx.
Rs 1,864 per square yard). The revised rates — if approved — would offer a relief of around Rs 800 per square yard to thousands of allottees.
The proposed revision will be re-evaluated after studying the enhancement formulas used in Noida and Haryana, and the findings will be placed before the committee in the next executive meeting for final approval.
Historical data reveals that in 2013, the enhancement rates were significantly lower — between Rs 700 and Rs 850 per square yard, depending on plot size.
The current steep rates are attributed to the compounded interest accumulated over the past decade, a result of administrative delays in Gmada's processing and finalisation of enhancement calculations.
The move signals an effort by the state to strike a balance between compensating original landowners and offering financial relief to plot allottees, while ensuring that Punjab's urban development authorities remain aligned with practices in neighbouring states.
Plot owners in the affected sectors have welcomed the possibility of a revision but remain cautiously optimistic, awaiting the final nod from the Gmada executive committee.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
ED raids unearth multiple property documents linked to former Vasai-Virar civic chief
Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized multiple property-related documents linked to the former civic chief of Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVMC), Anil Pawar, during searches conducted at 12 premises linked to him on Tuesday and Wednesday. ED sources said Pawar had "created a number of entities in the name of his family members, relatives and benamidars to launder the bribe amount collected." The source said, "The formation of shell entities coincides with his posting as VVCMC commissioner (2022). These entities are primarily engaged in businesses where large amounts of cash are absorbed, such as construction and redevelopment of residential towers, construction of warehouses and others." You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Investigations by the ED showed an organised cartel of VVCMC officers, including the commissioner, deputy director of town planning, junior engineers, architects, CAs, and liaisoners, all operating in collusion. This cartel is responsible for large-scale illegal construction within VVCMC's jurisdiction. Commissioner VVCMC Anil Pawar, an IAS officer, is accused of orchestrating and sustaining this cartel. The ED investigation showed that after Pawar assumed the role of commissioner of VVCMC, the commission fee was set at Rs 20-25 per sq ft for the commissioner and Rs 10 per sq ft for his junior, Y S Reddy (Deputy Director Town Planning), based on the total project area from the builders. During searches at twelve premises associated with Pawar, the ED seized Rs 1.33 crore in unaccounted cash, along with numerous incriminating documents and devices. These included property documents in the names of relatives and benamidars, as well as cash and cheque deposit slips, among others. The ED sources said digital devices seized during the operations revealed Pawar's close involvement in creating a nexus of VVCMC officials and architects, CAs, and liaisoners. The money laundering case pertains to the illegal construction of 41 residential and commercial buildings on govt and private land under VVCMC's jurisdiction since 2009. This includes a 60-acre tract designated for sewage treatment and dumping facilities. Although Pawar was not the VVCMC chief at the time of construction, he failed to take action against the developments after assuming office, despite receiving complaints. The 41 buildings were recently demolished following a Bombay high court order. Flat buyers lost their money as well as their homes. In May, the ED raided 13 locations in Nalasopara, Vasai, Virar, and Hyderabad, seizing Rs 8.6 crore in unaccounted cash and Rs 23.2 crore worth of jewellery and bullion from the Hyderabad residence of Y S Reddy, deputy director of town planning, VVCMC. A few locals in Vasai burst crackers and distributed sweets late on Tuesday after the news of the ED raid spread across the city. They alleged that since Pawar was the administrator, he took unilateral decisions and corruption peaked during his tenure. "We also had written to the Maharashtra chief minister to conduct an investigation about his wealth and properties," said Sushant Patil of the Bhumiputra Sangathan, Vasai.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Telangana Housing Board sells acre land in KPHB for over Rs 65 cr
Hyderabad: The e-auction of an acre of open commercial land held by the Telangana Housing Board fetched the state govt over Rs 65.3 crore. The auction for plot number 1 in Phase 4 of the Kukatpally Housing Board, held on Wednesday, attracted 11 bidders. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), a statutory body that governs the chartered accountancy profession in the country, won the bid among the four online bidders. VP Gautham, vice-chairman of the Telangana Housing Board, said that the identities of the parties involved in the auction were not disclosed until the end of the online bidding. He also announced that the state govt earned revenues amounting to Rs 26 crore by selling Rajiv Swagruha Corporation flats in Bandlaguda on Wednesday. On Wednesday, 131 of the 159 remaining flats at Rajiv Swagruha Corporation at its Bandlaguda township were sold and allotted to middle-class beneficiaries through a lottery, said Gautham, the managing director of Rajiv Swagruha Corporation. Meanwhile, on June 11, the Housing Board conducted a land auction for 18 vacant plots in Phase 7 of the Kukatpally Housing Board Colony in Greater Hyderabad. Plot number 22 was sold at a record price of Rs 2.98 lakh per square yard, with officials claiming that the city's real estate sector is booming. A total of 6,232 square yards were auctioned for these 18 plots, with an average price of Rs 2.38 lakh per yard, and the highest price of Rs 2.98 lakh was paid for Plot number 22. Furthermore, Gautham said that the main purpose of the auction was to provide affordable housing to middle-income groups on a no-loss-no-profit basis, in line with the state govt's aim of providing housing at affordable rates in urban areas for the middle classes. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The unsold flats included 19 one-bedroom apartments and nine flats for senior citizens. According to sources, this could be due to inappropriate Vastu and entrance. The govt will make a final decision on the remaining flats. Five auctions have been held in over a decade to sell the 2,700-odd 3-BHK, 2-BHK and 1-BHK flats, as well as flats for senior citizens, in Bandlaguda township. Only 28 flats remain. The auction and draw of lots for the flats in Pocharam township will be held on Aug 1 and 2.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Probe Agency Restitutes Rs 380-Crore Assets In Bank 'Fraud' Involving Ex-MLA
New Delhi: Attached assets worth Rs 380 crore have been restored to a designated Maharashtra government authority for distribution to the about 5 lakh "duped" depositors of a cooperative bank, controlled by a former MLA, as part of a money laundering proceeding, the Enforcement Directorate said on Wednesday. The case pertains to the Karnala Nagari Sahakari Bank Ltd. in Panvel where it was alleged that its erstwhile chairman, Vivekanand Shankar Patil, in connivance with other officials of the bank, "cheated" the lender and "siphoned off" the funds for private investments. Patil, a four-time MLA of the Shetkari Kamgar Paksha Party, was arrested by the ED in June 2021. The money laundering case of the ED stems from a February 2020 FIR filed by the Pune Police Economic Offences Wing (EOW). The police alleged in its chargesheet that the then chairman Patil and other officials of the bank prepared 63 "bogus" loan accounts using "forged" documents without following the RBI guidelines and standard banking norms, and "siphoned off" Rs 560 crore for personal gains, the federal probe agency said in a statement. The ED said its probe found that funds were "diverted" to various entities "controlled" by Patil and his relatives. "He (Patil) purchased various properties and assets using the funds siphoned off from the bank and these proceeds of crime were utilised for the purchase of immovable properties at different locations in Raigad district of Maharashtra," it said. These assets, worth Rs 386 crore, were attached by the ED under two provisional orders issued in 2021 and 2023. The ED also filed a chargesheet in August 2021 before a special PMLA court in Mumbai. The ED said the liquidator appointed by the RBI for the bank filed an application, under section 8(8) of the PMLA, before the court seeking restitution of assets. The ED gave its consent, the agency said. The court issued an order on July 22 directing the release of the property -- Karnala Sports Academy at Panvel -- to the liquidator and to put it up for auction, the ED said. The court also ordered the Competent Authority (Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors) to "realise" the land at Posari, Raigad by auction for distribution amongst the depositors. "The bank had more than 5 lakh depositors having total deposits of Rs 553 crore, and they lost their hard-earned money. "In the larger interest of depositors and currently ongoing restitution efforts, ED took steps to expedite the process resulting in the restitution," the agency said. The PMLA provides for the process of restitution even before completion of the court trial in order to provide succour to the victims of frauds like bank loans and Ponzi scheme cheating. The fraud came to light after an audit was done at the instance of the Reserve Bank of India during 2019-20, when it was found that Patil was siphoning off funds from the bank through 67 "fictitious" loan accounts. The funds were sent to the loan accounts of entities/firms/trusts owned or controlled by Patil including Karnala Charitable Trust, Karnala Sports Academy and Karnala Mahila Readymade Garments Cooperative Society Limited, the agency had claimed in a statement issued in October 2023.
