Notice to Punjab on charging developmental charges

Residents of Kabir Cooperative House Building Society, Pakhowal road, Ludhiana move the Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday highlighting that though the Ludhiana Improvement Trust had charged Rs 1.60 crores as development charges from them in 1999 but they had been left to maintain all roads, parks, streetlights and sanitation at their own cost.

Residents of Kabir Cooperative House Building Society, Pakhowal road, Ludhiana move the Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday highlighting that though the Ludhiana Improvement Trust had charged Rs 1.60 crores as development charges from them in 1999 but they had been left to maintain all roads, parks, streetlights and sanitation at their own cost.

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Taking up the petition, the bench headed by justice Mahesh Grover issued notices of motion to Punjab government, municipal corporation, Ludhiana; Ludhiana Improvement Trust and deputy commissioner, Ludhiana so as to file their replies before February 15.

The petitioners sought quashing of the agreement of September 21, 1999, entered into between the society and the Ludhiana Improvement Trust which laid down that the society shall pay development charges and exemption fee amounting to Rs 1.60 crores but at the same time, it will be for the society to maintain all the roads, parks, streetlight and sanitation.

It was informed that the society was not in good financial condition so as to maintain roads, parks, streetlights and sanitation at its own resulting in inconvenience to the residents.