Jaipur: Even as the state govt publicly voices concern over rising encroachments and unauthorised colonies, its decision to regularise such settlements through Urban Service Camps has drawn criticism from town planners and municipal officials, who say the policy rewards violations and weakens enforcement.Officials argue that the practice encourages builders to develop illegal colonies in the expectation that future govts will eventually legitimise them by issuing pattas.Through a circular issued on June 10, the govt introduced several relaxations under existing urban development laws to facilitate disposal of cases during the camps.Under the order, matters relating to mutation, conversion of leasehold properties into freehold, issuance of no-objection certificates (NOCs), and subdivision or reconstitution of plots processed during the camps will not require site inspections.Urban planners warned that dispensing with site verification could have serious consequences.“If there are multiple violations of setback norms, who will take responsibility? Suppose there is a major fire in a colony in future. What happens if fire engines or ambulances are unable to enter because of inadequate access? A similar incident took place in Kho Nagoriyan a couple of weeks back,” a senior town planner said.Officials said residents of unauthorised colonies often use these camps to secure ownership documents and regularise their plots.They pointed out that successive govts have adopted a flawed approach under which encroachments on govt land worth lakhs or even crores of rupees can eventually be legitimised through official pattas on payment of just Rs 500.“Such camps are motivating a section of builders to develop unauthorised colonies. They know that after 10 to 15 years, plot owners — their targeted consumers — will be able to obtain legitimate pattas through these camps. It is nothing but a populist decision,” said a senior local govt official.Municipal officials have also objected to another relaxation allowing chief municipal officers to authorise junior or assistant engineers to perform the duties of senior draftsmen or assistant town planners in urban local bodies where these posts are vacant.
