Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday unanimously passed ‘The Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2024’ — a landmark piece of legislation designed to overhaul property registration procedures and curb the proliferation of illegal colonies. The new Bill removes the requirement for a ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) for registering land deeds, providing significant relief to property owners and streamlining the process for those with plots up to 500 square yards. The bill aimed at addressing the long-standing issues associated with unauthorized developments and offer a more straightforward approach for legalizing property ownership.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, tabling the Bill in the House on the second day of the monsoon session, emphasized its importance for ordinary citizens. Mann highlighted that the amendment would simplify the registration process for many landowners who previously struggled with the bureaucratic hurdles imposed by NOC requirements.

Explaining further, he said that the Bill would allow property owners with agreements or power of attorney documents dated up to July 31, 2024, to register their land without needing a NOC. This change is intended to reduce the complications associated with property registration and discourage the creation of new illegal colonies.

“This bill represents a historic shift towards better governance in property management,” said Mann, while highlighting the new provisions that mandate severe penalties for unauthorized colonizers, including imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines ranging from Rs 25 lakhs to Rs five crores.

Mann also used the opportunity to launch a verbal assault on the opposition leaders, accusing them of failing to address the issue of illegal colonies in their tenures. He claimed that previous governments had repeatedly regularized unauthorized colonies despite promising not to, thus perpetuating the problem.

The legislation is seen as a direct response to the rampant illegal colonization under previous administrations. Mann, positioning himself as a seasoned leader, argued that unlike his predecessors, his government is committed to genuine reform. He sharply rebuked previous leaders, asserting that they failed to curb the proliferation of unauthorized colonies, thereby exploiting and misleading the public. “Apologies may be offered for mistakes, but sins are unforgivable,” Mann declared, criticizing those who have sought to deflect blame for past failures.

Mann positioned himself as a corrective force, arguing that his administration’s decision was a necessary step to rectify past mistakes. He patted his own back for introducing a novel measure involving colour-coded stamp papers, designed to help investors secure necessary permissions and ensure that land is used for its intended purpose.

Opposition responses to the bill were varied. SAD MLA from Dakha Manpreet Singh Ayali offered a nuanced critique of the amendment. While acknowledging that the Bill could be beneficial, Ayali expressed concerns about the clarity of certain provisions and the overall implementation. He urged that the Bill address historical issues related to illegal colonies more explicitly and ensure that similar problems do not arise in the future. Ayali’s remarks highlighted the need for transparency and effective policy measures to tackle the root causes of unauthorized development.

Mohinder Bhagat, AAP MLA from Jalandhar West, supported the bill, describing it as a significant step forward for Punjab. He praised the bill for its potential to eliminate the cumbersome NOC requirement and prevent the creation of new illegal colonies. Bhagat pointed out that similar regulations in the neighbouring states had not been as effective, making the Punjab amendment a noteworthy advancement. He also stressed the importance of the bill in protecting citizens from the issues associated with unauthorized property developments.

However, Independent MLA Rana Inder Pratap Singh raised concerns about the financial implications of the bill. He questioned who would bear the costs associated with developing the newly regularized colonies and suggested that the responsibility should lie with the developers rather than local councils, which are already facing financial constraints.

East War Awards Bill Passed

The House earlier passed ‘The East War Awards (Amendment) Bill, 2024’. Presenting the Bill, Defence Services Welfare Minister Chetan Singh Jouramajra said that the Punjab Government has decided to amend the 1948 Act to enhancing the financial assistance from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 per annum. The Minister pointed that the Punjab Government provides War Jagir as financial assistance to those parents whose only child or two to three children had served in the Indian Army during the Second World War, National Emergency 1962 and 1971 under ‘The East Punjab War Awards Act 1948’. “Presently, 83 beneficiaries are availing benefits under this policy…Punjab has announced that financial assistance to those parents whose only child or two to three children had served in the Indian Army during the Second World War, National Emergency 1962 and 1971 under ‘The East Punjab War Awards Act 1948’ will be increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 per annum,” he added.

Water Contamination in Majha Region

Independent MLA Rana Inder Pratap Singh highlighted recent findings from IIT Mandi, which revealed deteriorating water quality in Punjab. A report from Pondicherry University further corroborated this, indicating high levels of heavy elements in the water across Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur in the Majha region. He emphasized the need for an in-depth investigation to determine the cause, whether geological or otherwise, and to assess its impact on human health, livestock, and crops.

Address Farmers' Issues to End Protest in Chd: Bajwa to Govt

Congress leader Pratap Bajwa raised concerns about the farmers' protest in Chandigarh, urging the formation of a cross-party delegation to engage with the farmers and resolve their 

issues. He also highlighted an incident where farmer leaders were denied boarding a flight, suggesting it needed to be addressed with the Central Civil Aviation Minister. The Speaker acknowledged the seriousness of the matter.

National Highway Projects and Flood Risk

The Assembly discussed challenges related to National Highway projects, which have led to water flow disruptions and potential flood risks in Punjab. Issues such as inadequate drainage systems and lack of access roads for farmers were highlighted. The need for these concerns to be addressed in meetings with the National Highway Authority of India was emphasized to prevent future flooding and support farmers.

Gokul Setia, who lost narrowly to Gopal Kanda in 2019, joins Congress

PNS Chandigarh

Gokul Setia, grandson of five-time MLA and veteran leader Lacchman Dass Arora, joined the Congress party in the presence of former Chief Minister and Congress legislative party leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, party affairs in-charge of Haryana Deepak Babaria, Haryana Congress president Udai Bhan and screening committee’s chairman Ajay Maken on Tuesday.

Considered to be a strong contender against Haryana Lokhit Party’s Gopal Kanda in the Sirsa assembly constituency, Setia had contested as an Independent candidate in the 2019 Assembly polls. Although he had lost to Kanda, the margin was as low as 602 votes.

After joining Congress, Setia said, “I am positive that Haryana will vote for the Congress in a big way this time. I want my constituency to be given due participation in the government. For the last 10-15 years, my constituency was ignored. Even while I was in the BJP, I had to protest in the interest of my constituency; which is why I was not considered as the party nominee in the 2019 Assembly election.” According to party sources, Setia was in close contact with the Congress party high command through Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring.