Kathmandu:Lack of awareness among common people about the need for a ‘planning permit’ to convert a piece of land into housing plots is resulting into unscrupulous property brokers taking gullible buyers for a ride — selling them a housing plot which has not been approved by relevant authorities for house construction.

who bought a housing plot at recently is now accusing the broker of cheating him.

was told that the plot was a ‘’planned” one while the fact turned out to be otherwise.

The municipality did not agree to ‘’map passing procedure of the plot,” said.

Now, he is worried that the money spent to buy the plot at Rs 3,00,000 per is all lost.

The Construction & Building Act 2064 provides that a ‘planning permit’ can be given only if the planners follow the laid down by the planning committee.
Kathmandu Valley Town Development Committee (KVTDC) has so far given 22 planning permits. Chief district officer of KVTDC Dr said that these unscrupulous activities are carried out at individual levels, and therefore, not easy to detect in time. He admitted monitoring agencies are not able to keep these elements in check.

VDC secretary ofKumar KC said, “Agricultural lands are being randomly converted into housing plots and sold by brokers. Another officer at Land Reform Office said some members of the planning committees are hand in glove with brokers and provide them ‘planning permit’ without meeting the standards set by the committee. He also added that these ACTs are limited only to paperwork in reality. CDO Raj Nepal said creating awareness and setting up a dedicated monitoring agency could alone put a stop to such activities.

courtesy:The Himalalayan Times,June 4-2010