In a significant move ending years of uncertainty, the Punjab government has announced a major reduction in land enhancement charges for thousands of allottees in Mohali. The decision brings substantial financial relief to residents who have been entangled in a protracted legal and administrative process.
A Long-Awaited Resolution
The core of the issue involves enhancement notices issued by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) for plots in sectors 76 to 80. The saga began over a decade and a half ago, with the first notices sent out in the period of 2007–08. Subsequent notices followed in 2010 and again in 2012.
However, the process was stalled because the land in question was not formally acquired by the authority. Furthermore, litigation filed by farmers whose land was meant to be acquired remained pending in court. This legal limbo left allottees in a state of prolonged uncertainty regarding the final cost of their plots.
The Final Notice and Government Intervention
The deadlock was broken, but not favorably for residents, when fresh enhancement notices were served directly to the allottees in 2022. This move bypassed the unresolved acquisition and litigation issues, putting the financial burden squarely on the residents.
The prolonged delay, spanning nearly 15 years, had severe financial implications. Approximately 7,680 allottees faced mounting interest burdens, causing their total payable amounts to balloon to two or even three times the original enhancement charges. The situation demanded urgent government intervention.
Details of the Relief Package
The Punjab government's new directive mandates a substantial cut in the enhancement amount. The rate has been officially reduced from the previously demanded Rs 3,164 per square metre to Rs 2,325 per square metre.
This revised rate is now the official amount that residents are required to pay. The reduction of Rs 839 per square metre represents a significant decrease in the financial liability for each allottee, the exact savings depending on the size of their individual plot.
The government's decision is being hailed as a major relief measure that finally provides clarity and eases the economic strain on thousands of families. It resolves a contentious issue that has been a source of anxiety for residents of sectors 76 to 80 in Mohali for many years.
