Power connections in colonies without government approval have been banned by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).
According to the corporation’s Illegal Colonies Regularisation Policy 2018, such colonies will not be allowed electricity connections.
Individual plot holders complained that the instructions had added to confusion by ambiguity in the interpretation of existing rules for granting power connections to such colonies. PSPCL officials claimed the instructions were issued to clarify confusion regarding existing rules.
The promoters of illegal colonies have not applied for regularization in some cases. However, individual plot owners who bought property prior to March 19, 2018, are eligible to receive the NOC. According to a local government official, the PSPCL must address the concerns of hundreds of such individual plot holders.
PSPCL has pointed out that for colonies that had been regularised, a NOC issued by the licensing authority would be required. NOCs issued offline to illegal colony plot holders that have been regularized need to be re-certified by the government.
Plot holders seeking to register their property with the sub-registrar will have to re-verify their documents. NOCs issued online were the only ones uploaded to the department’s website.
According to Guwinder Singh Lamba, president of the Punjab Colonisers and Property Dealers Association, the PSPCL instructions have saved hundreds of individual plot holders. “Power infrastructure has been augmented in such colonies.”
