Land Use Change Process Only After Paying Special Fees, Real Estate News, ET RealEstate
LUCKNOW: Upgradation of land use will now be possible only after paying special amenity fees and urban use charges. The state government has notified amendments to the UP urban planning and development act to introduce special amenity fees and amenity development funds under the housing development authorities of the state.
So far, no fee was charged for changing land use. The changes will give the authorities rights to change the provisions mentioned under the master plan with government’s approval. The move will give impetus to urbanisation while providing an option to the authorities to generate more revenue to provide better facilities. The housing and urban planning department has on September 15 circulated the document among the vice-chairmen of 29 development authorities for implementation.
Sharing the objective of the revised act, a senior officer said: “There is a strong possibility for upgradation of the existing land use. Under the present scenario the construction work done against the land use under the master plan were regularised without any fees.”
Now, authorities will be able to collect urban use charges at the time of approving the elevated land use and land use change applications, levy special amenity fees to allow major infrastructure charges and allow revision of master plan accordingly. The money collected will be deposited in the special amenities development fund of the concerned authority.
A six-member committee, including vice-chairman of LDA, chief town and country planner, director Awas Bandhu among others, has been formed to frame the formula and charges. The officer added: “For instance if an elevated road has to be constructed or a new waste treatment plant has to be set up at a different place than what is mentioned in the master plan, the authority will have the power to collect the charges. Cabinet approval will be required to exempt the agency from paying the charges.”
