HP Cabinet approves new Retention Policy

Shimla, Nov 14 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet today approved its new Retention Policy, regularising all buildings constructed in Municipal Corporations, Councils, Nagar Panchayats and other planning areas that had deviated from its construction plan, official sources said.

The Cabinet meeting, held with Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in the chair, allowed 50 per cent deviation in the construction plan with compounding fee.

The sources said the owners would have to pay a fee of Rs 500 per sq mt in Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat area and Rs 200 per sq mt in other parts of the state.

The charges would be levied only on the deviated area, the sources said.

They said buildings constructed without the approval of the town and country planning would also be regularised on the same rates.

However, such building owners would have to pay an additional lump sum amount from Rs 5,000 to Rs 9,000 per storey constructed in Municipal Corporation area, Rs 4,000 to Rs 8,000 in Municipal Council, Nagar Panchayat area and Rs 2,000 to Rs 6,000 per storey for all other planning areas, the sources said.

In another significant decision, it also decided to regularise up to five storey buildings in the state, while only two plus buildings would be regularised within Shimla Municipal Corporation area.

The sources said the Cabinet also decided that five storey residential buildings with shops would only be considered for regularisation after provision for parking was made within the premises.

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