Gram Panchayats Can Now Sanction Building Plans in Karnataka
The government promulgated an ordinance that empowers gram panchayats to grant licence to construct houses within their limits. On Wednesday, the government also notified the Karnataka Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2002 after governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot gave his assent. This means people in rural areas now need not run from pillar to post to get a building plan sanctioned by town planning authorities. “Earlier, people in rural areas had to get building plans sanctioned by the town planning authorities of municipalities if they wanted to build houses on a site measuring more than 30x40ft,” said an official from the department of parliamentary affairs. “This was the root cause of corruption, and it also was the cause of a lot of complaints of harassment by officials. Now, the provision has been deleted from the Karnataka Municipalities Act. ”
The official said the amendment to the act automatically empowers gram panchayats to sanction building plans irrespective of the dimension of the site. This will save citizens time and money. The amendment was proposed last year, and the cabi- net had approved the ordinance in its last meeting. Officials said the bill will be tabled in the monsoon session of the legislature which is expected to be held sometime in July-August.
Tags : Gram Panchayats Sanction Building Plans Karnataka the Karnataka Municipalities Act Thaawar Chand Gehlot