Punjab Finance Minister Cheema Hails Amendment to PAPRA Act 1995

Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday lauded the amendment to the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act 1995 (PAPRA Act 1995), introduced by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann in Punjab Vidhan Sabha, as a significant step towards improving the economy of Punjab and providing relief to the common people.

Speaking in favour of the amendment in the Punjab Assembly, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that this amendment is a big step towards empowering those people, who would no longer be burdened by the cumbersome NOC process for the small plots they purchased through a written agreement before July 31, 2024. "I extend my gratitude to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for thinking of the common people and bringing about this change", said Cheema.

Finance Minister Cheema highlighted that the PAPRA Act, enacted in 1995, aimed to prevent unauthorized colonies, but the Congress and SAD-BJP led previous governments' failures led to widespread illegal colonies without basic amenities like water supply, sewage, and proper roads. He said these colonies became hotbeds for deceitful activities, where innocent people were misled and exploited.

“However, with the amendment, plots up to 500 yards are now exempt from NOC requirements, ensuring that people can access basic necessities like electricity connection, sewerage, and registry without hassle. This move is expected to generate revenue for the state exchequer, enabling the government to upgrade infrastructure in these colonies”, said Cheema.

Finance Minister Cheema said that this is a major decision in the history of Punjab, and it would bring relief to those who were struggling to register their plots besides boosting the state's economy through revenue collection.