Una, January 31: With the objective of promoting planned and balanced development in panchayats, the Sub-Divisional Town and Country Planning Office, Una, organized an awareness camp today (Saturday) in the auditorium of the Bahdala Panchayat Ghar. The camp was held under the chairmanship of Assistant Town Planner Una, Nirmal Singh, and was attended by the heads, deputy heads, panchayat secretaries, and ward members of the panchayats included in the special area.
During the camp, Nirmal Singh provided the attending representatives with detailed information about the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act, 1977, and the rules and regulations applicable in the Una planning/special area. He urged the representatives to make the general public in their respective panchayat wards aware of these provisions so that planned development of the area can be ensured and the future of present and future generations remains secure and environmentally balanced.
He also shared information about the exemptions provided under the Act for developmental activities in rural areas. It was also clarified that if any person wants to purchase land and construct a building in the panchayats included in the Una planning area, it is mandatory to obtain prior permission from the Town and Country Planning Department.
Highlighting the provisions of Section 16(C) of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1977, it was explained that it is necessary to get the plot approved by the department before selling the land, and buyers should also only purchase sub-divided plots approved by the department, so that they can get well-organized, square or rectangular plots, proper roads, and other basic amenities.
Information about the provisions of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) was also provided at the camp. He explained that registration under RERA is mandatory for constructing and selling plots on 500 square meters of land or more than 8 apartments in the notified planning area. In addition, in the district, any plot or apartment construction and sale on land exceeding 1000 square meters will be considered a deemed planning area, requiring departmental approval and RERA registration.
Nirmal Singh also cautioned the public representatives about the future problems arising from illegal constructions and appealed to them not to undertake any construction without departmental approval.
Planning Officer Ramesh Chand, Senior Draftsman Ravi Kishore, Junior Engineer Radha Devi, and Junior Draftsman Ramesh Chand, along with other officials, were present at the awareness camp.