THE ORDER IMPLIES THAT THE AUTHORITIES WILL ENSURE GOOD RESPONSE DURING AUCTION OR DRAW OF PROPERTIES

SASNAGAR: Taking note of exorbitant prices of property being charged by various development authorities under the department of housing and urban development, Captain Amarinder Singh, chief minister, Punjab and chairman, Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) has directed the department to rationalise the prices and sustain maximum participation of buyers.

The authorities which would be affected by the orders includes Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), Bathinda Developmet Authority (BDA), Jalandhar Development Authority (JDA), Patiala Development Authority (PDA), Amritsar Development Authority (ADA) and PUDA.

Orders implied that concerned authorities would ensure good response before property is offered for sale through auction or draw of lots. Department is also working to explore right time and season for sale of its property.

This indicates that sale of property by the department would be on hold for some time.

Additional chief Secretary, department of housing and urban development has also issued instructions to the development authorities to build their land banks. The land may be acquired under the land pooling scheme or under 80:20 format. Intention of acquisition of land under these two formats is to make land owners/farmers partners in urban development of the state. The two formats provide for acquisition of land on ‘Land for Land’ basis.

Department is also in the process identifying new sites for development.

The department has commercial, residential and institutional property to offer for sale. Section 43 of Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act 1995 mandates the department to dispose of land in any manner by creation of an easement.

Properties available for sale are divided into two categories that is property transferred to the department under optimum utilization of vacant government lands (OUVGL) scheme and property available in the urban estates developed by department