Chandigarh: Ahead of the Assembly elections, Punjab govt has extended relief to existing industries operating in non-conforming zones across the state, exempting them from the provisions of Section 79 of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995, until Sept 30, 2027. The exemption is subject to compliance with the norms of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the board.The move is expected to benefit close to 20,000 industrial units across the state, nearly half of which are located in Ludhiana. The exemption covers 24 master plans across Punjab, including Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Patiala, Bathinda and several towns in Mohali district.Section 79 of the Act requires land use and development to conform to the notified master plan once it comes into operation in an area. It prohibits the use of land, permitting its use or carrying out development contrary to the provisions of the master plan.Govt had earlier exempted existing industries operating in residential zones under the Ludhiana Master Plan, within and outside municipal corporation limits, from Section 79 for three years, from September 11, 2023, to September 10, 2026. The exemption was subject to compliance with PPCB norms and obtaining an NOC under a notification issued on October 6, 2023.With the exemption expiring on September 10, small-scale industrialists staged a protest in Ludhiana on October 8, demanding an extension of the relief. They feared that the expiry of the exemption had left thousands of industrialists uncertain about the future of their businesses.According to the latest notification, the master plans covered by the order have either completed or are likely to complete 15 years from the dates of their respective notifications. Exercising powers under Section 178 of the Act, Governor of Punjab has exempted existing industries operating in the non-conforming zones of the 24 master plans from Section 79 until September 30, 2027, subject to the stipulated conditions.The master plans covered by the notification are Ludhiana, Mohali, Mullanpur, Derabassi, Zirakpur, Abohar, Bathinda, Kharar, Banur, Jalandhar, Patiala, Gobindgarh, Amritsar, Khanna, Goindwal, Hargobindpur, Baghapurana, Tarn Taran, Kotkapura, Sangrur, Sultanpur Lodhi, Rama Mandi, Hoshiarpur and Fatehgarh Sahib.Mohali district accounts for six of the listed master plans — Mohali, Mullanpur, Derabassi, Zirakpur, Kharar and Banur. The remaining master plans are located in Ludhiana, Fazilka, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Moga, Faridkot, Sangrur, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur districts.
