Punjab: Violating building bylaws to attract hefty penalties now

Littering a public place, blocking a road with construction material, constructing that extra room in violation of the approved building plan, urinating in public places and even spitting on the road can cost Punjab urban dwellers dear.

In a move to stem violation of the various rules laid down by municipal bodies in urban areas, the government has sharply increased the penalties imposed for breaking these rules.

All types of violations, including those of building bylaws, will now attract a penalty of up to Rs 20,000 as against the earlier fine of Rs 500, a straight 40 fold hike.

The violations include breach of bylaws relating to payment of taxes, construction of buildings of all types, drainage, sewage disposal, sanitation, public safety, maintenance of slaughterhouses, and markets among others.

“The fine applies to almost every rule that is broken by a city resident. Construction of home against the approved plan amounts to violation of building bylaws while littering, spitting, urination in public places is violation of the sanitation and health bylaws,” said an official of the local bodies department.

Earlier, the fine for violating any bylaws of the act was a maximum of Rs 500 and the municipal bodies found it expensive to have a dedicated team of inspectors to catch people violating these rules. “Our teams, as a result, will focus mainly on building bylaws violations in residential, commercial and industrial buildings, which is rampant. The high fines will act as a deterrent to the other kinds of violations as well,” he added.

In case of a continuing contravention, the violator was fined Rs 20 per day from the day of the end of the notice or warning period in case of building violations or first act of conviction in case of other violations. The daily fine, beyond the date of the end of notice period, has now been increased to Rs 500 per day.

The move follows the recent amendment to the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, followed by the governor’s approval. The amendment was notified by the government on December 17, 2014. However, instructions to the municipal bodies have been received now and these will be enforced with immediate effect.

Amarjit Singh Sekhon, joint commissioner, MC, Ludhiana, said they had recently got the notification from the government. He said in case anyone violated the bylaws, the MC issued challans, which were presented before the court and a fine imposed as per law.

Fine for ads without permission

In the same amendment, the government has increased the fine for “advertisements without permission” to Rs 50,000, which is 100 times more than the previous fine, which was up to Rs 500. “The violators of Prohibition of Advertisement without permission (section 123 of third schedule of the act) would face heavy fines as the fine will be charged Rs 50,000 and an additional Rs 500 per day in case of continuing of contravention,” says the notification.

Penalties increased manifold
Earlier Now
Building bylaws Rs 500 Rs 20,000
Ads without permission Rs 500 Rs 50,000