Chandigarh, October 24
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) congratulated the people of Punjab after the Governor approved the proposal to eliminate the requirement of an NOC (No Objection Certificate) for the registration of unauthorized colonies. AAP minister Aman Arora shared this information on behalf of the Punjab government, stating that people will no longer face difficulties with registrations.
Arora noted that residents of these colonies will now have access to all basic government services. Previously, due to their unauthorized status, they were deprived of various governmental benefits and faced challenges in registering their properties, causing them significant distress.
He said that the government’s duty is to ensure justice for the people, who often invest their life savings in purchasing land and homes. To address this issue, the Punjab government introduced the 'Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (Amendment) Act-2024,' which was passed unanimously in the last assembly session. A special cabinet meeting also took place to decide on eliminating the NOC requirement.
Arora blamed the previous Akali and Congress governments for the situation, stating that more than 14,000 unauthorized colonies were created during their tenure, leading to hardships for thousands today.
He mentioned that the registration without an NOC is effective immediately across Punjab. The duration of this provision and other relevant details will be announced in the coming days by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Issue of Unauthorized Colonies Pending Since 2018
The issue of unauthorized colonies in Punjab has been pending since before 2018, but the previous government failed to resolve it. The AAP government made this historic decision to remove the NOC requirement to facilitate the registration process, considering the hardships and financial losses faced by millions.
The AAP accused opposition parties of colluding with builders for personal gains, leading to the creation of these colonies and the subsequent problems for the people. The new law stipulates that unauthorized colonies must have been established between 2018 and before July 31, 2024, to qualify for the NOC exemption.