Violate building bylaws, construct residential or commercial complexes in blatant violation of regulation, just pay 10-20 % of the reserve price as penalties and enjoy it for ever. This is what the regulation 2000, a notification by the government of Rajasthan to deal with the unauthorized constructions across urban settlements in the state, envisages. The regulation has not only created a mess in urban areas but also offset the efforts of the town planners and the master plans.
Another aspect of the regulation deals with the change in land use. Any person who wishes to change the usability of a property other than the assigned use, the assignee only needs to apply for change in use in the respective local body and the latter will grant the permission subsequently. Notably the regulation has no technical rider for not granting the permission for change in use. At the same time there is no mechanism to stop the misuse of land earmarked for public utilities like parks, schools, colleges and other open spaces.
Cities like Jaipur have been adversely affected by the blatant violation of bylaws and irrational politically loaded regulations. The land use committee, which is the apex decision making body for the purpose, is headed by the mayor and other members are CEO JMC, local MLAs and senior town planners. Taking a leaf out of the irrational regulation the vested interests have got their residential properties changed into commercial ones. There are hundreds of applications lying in the JMC for such changes. This indiscriminate change in land use has created chaos in the city. Areas like Bani park, Govind Marg ,Bapu Nagar, Tilak Nagar JLN Marg have witnessed gross violations of commercial parameters.
In similar veins many hotels, restaurants and other commercial establishments have come up in residential areas, often nullifying the master plan and affecting the quality of life of citizens.
Ex-chief town planner B L Mehra said, “The regulations have been like a blank cheque for the offenders, which allow illegal unauthorized constructions and after paying a little bit of amount every thing becomes legal and ok. If this indiscriminate permission continues to be granted then what is the use of town planning and planned development. It affects the peace of ordinary residents of an area if commercial activities come up, besides it encourages speculative investment in real estate. If we alter plans like this then where is the scope for creating space for public utilities and green spaces, this trend also incurs loss to public exchequer as interested people will not prefer buying commercial plots earmarked by the government because converting their own residential premises in to commercial ones is easier and cheaper”.