The Hindu : MCH likely to reduce town planning charges

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 08, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

MCH likely to reduce town planning charges

By J.S. Ifthekhar

HYDERABAD April 7. The Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) is expected to reduce the steep hike it effected in town planning charges in the name of `rounding off' in the next general body meeting of the council when the minutes of the previous meet come up for confirmation.

The Corporation got the nod of the Standing Committee to jack up the fee charged for various licences and permissions under town planning by 10 per cent but in reality it ended up pushing up the fee by more than what it proposed.

In some cases the fee is more than double. For instance the annual licence fee charged from surveyors is increased from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000, a hike of 100 per cent. The fee for architects, engineers, structural engineers and town planners is increased from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1500 per annum. The proposed enhancement was actually 10 per cent but in the name of rounding off, the MCH increased the fee exorbitantly.

Barring two categories, the hike in fee ranges from 11 to 50 per cent and above. This sweeping rise drew flak from corporators during the recent council meeting. They felt that officials ought to have rounded off the figures to next higher digit and not doubled it. In the next council meeting, the authorities are likely to correct the mistake and make the hike just 10 per cent as originally proposed.

Under section 622 (2) of HMC Act, the MCH has enhanced the layout/sub-division fee, building permit fee, betterment and external betterment charges, open space contribution charges, development charges, security deposit and impact feet. Charges for the last three categories are being collected by the MCH as fixed by the Government from time to time. Now, the proposed enhancement will be recommended to the Government for approval as the power vests with the Government, says the Additional Commissioner, Planning, A. Satyanarayana.

The charges for obtaining layout is increased to Rs. 9 per square meter for residential use and Rs. 15 for non-residential use. The building permit fee for construction of residential building on a plot area of 101 to 300 sq. mt. will now cost Rs. 35 per sq. mt. and for more than 300 sq. mt. plot Rs. 60 per sq. mt. Plots up to 100 sq.mt are exempted from permit fee. Even for opening of gates, windows, ventilators the MCH has hiked the charges by 25 per cent. Now people will have to shell down Rs. 125 for each such opening. Issue of certified copies of sanctioned plans will also cost more.

The Corporation has to step up these charges in view of the rising cost on establishment and expenditure for provision of infrastructure facilities and civic amenities. Through this measure, the MCH is expected to mop up an additional Rs. 2 crores. Its present revenue through town planning is Rs. 26.80 crores.

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