Haryana Bills: Respite for unauthorised colonies in state, tax amnesty for traders

AMNESTY SCHEME COVERS PAYMENT OF TAX, INTEREST, PENALTY OR ANY OTHER DUES FOR THE PERIOD PRIOR TO APRIL 1, 2015

CHANDIGARH: Providing more relief to unauthorised colonies in the state, the Haryana assembly on Thursday passed the Haryana Management of Civic Amenities and Infrastructure Deficient Municipal Areas (Special Provisions) Bill, 2016 to make a special provision for providing essential services in civic amenities and infrastructure deficient municipal areas.

The law would replace the Haryana Management of Civic Amenities and Infrastructure Deficient Municipal Areas (Special Provisions) Act, 2013.

It was observed that there are a number of unauthorised colonies or areas which have 50% or more constructed plots and fulfill other laid down parameters of the 2013 Act. This Act provided immunity to the notified colonies for one year of notification from punitive action to be taken with respect of provisions of other Acts or laws applicable. The government had decided to notify colonies as civic amenities and infrastructure deficient areas fulfilling parameters as on March 31, 2015 so that deficient amenities and infrastructure can be provided. TAX AMNESTY T he assembly passed the Haryana Value- Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The amendment Bill, which replaced an ordinance, was necessitated to enable the government to notify an amnesty scheme covering payment of tax, interest, penalty or any other dues under the Act, for the period prior to April 1, 2015 only. Subsequently, the registered dealers in districts such Rohtak, Jhajjar and Sonepat suffered losses on account of goods destroyed or lost during the reservation agitation in February 2016. In order to grant some relief to the registered dealers affected by the reservation agitation, the government felt the need to introduce an Amnesty Scheme for affected registered dealers. The stipulated cut-off date restricting the amnesty scheme only for the period prior to April 1, 2015 as mentioned in section 59A, did not allow introduction of the scheme for the period after March 31, 2015. CONSOLIDATION ACT

The House passed the East Punjab Holdings (Consolidation and Prevention of Fragmentation) Haryana Amendment Bill, 2016. The Bill aims at streamlining the work of consolidation and to broaden the scope of consolidation, general amendments are required in the East Punjab Holdings (Consolidation and Prevention of Fragmentation) Act, 1948. ENABLING PROVISOS FOR NEW POLICY DECISIONS

The assembly passed the Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas (Amendment) Bill, 2016 to implement the policy decisions taken by the government. Several policy decisions taken recently would have a significant positive impact in improving transparency in dealing with licence cases as well as in providing a major fillip to the urban development sector. The implementation of the New Integrated Licensing Policy and issuance of Transferable Development Rights Certificate would make available land to the government for development of community facilities, infrastructural facilities, EWS/affordable housing, physical, social or commercial urban infrastructure in various towns without resorting to land acquisition. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

The House passed the Haryana Enterprises Promotion Bill to provide for simplification of regulatory framework and to assist the promoters in speedy implementation of industrial projects by providing singlepoint, time-bound clearances required for setting up of enterprises under one roof and reduce the procedural requirements. It would also rationalise the documents and ensure ease of doing business for the promotion of industrial development in the state.