Seven-fold increase proposed in licence fee for erecting hedges

Facing the shortage of funds, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has proposed to enhance licence fee seven times for giving permission for erecting or re-erecting hedges and fences on municipal land.

The agenda on fee revision is being placed during the general house meeting of the MC on Wednesday. As per the proposal prepared by the Horticultural Department, presently the licence fee at the rate of Rs 25 per 100 sq ft per year (or 25 paise per sq ft per year) is being charged for giving permission for erecting hedges in the permissible area. This rate was placed and approved in the Finance and Contract Committee meeting on December 21, 1999. Since these rates were enforced from 1999, there was a need to increase the licence fee for revenue generation. It has been proposed to increase the licence fee from 25 paise per sq ft per year to Rs 2 per sq ft per year for erecting or re-erecting hedges on Municipal land adjoining residential area on road berm of V-5 and V-6 roads.

The Horticulture Wing is entrusted to grant licence under the Byelaws Control and Regulation of Hedges and Fences. The Secretary Estate, Chandigarh Administration, has appointed the MC Superintending Engineer, Horticulture and Electrical, as the Licensing Officer to accord the permission to erect or re-erect Hedges and Fences on Municipal Land as per the Byelaws Chandigarh (Control and Regulation of Hedges and Fences) Byelaws 1971.

Before 1999, there was no charges for erecting hedges. One just needed a licence to put hedges on the municipal land and no fee was charged. House owners can erect or re-erect hedges 6 feet away from the nearest kerb line of the adjoining V-6 roads.

Compound surcharge on water bill defaulters likely

The MC is also considering to impose compound surcharge at the rate of 10 per cent of water bill on defaulters. Sources said that this will help recover outstanding bills to the tune of crores.

The proposal says that as per the existing Water Supply Byelaws-2011, the penalty as surcharge in water bill is levied on consumers for delayed payments. The surcharge is added in the next bill cycle for delayed payments.

Chandigarh