Gujarat State Governor may decide on impact fee bill today

Ahmedabad: Friday could be an important day for shop owners on CG Road when governor Dr Kamla is likely to take a final call on the Gujarat Regularisation of Unauthorised Development Bill, 2011.
TheCGRoad Shop Owner’s Association members, who met the governor on Tuesday, were informed that governor’s office would inform them about her decision on Friday. The governor istaking a closer look at the bill as the Gujarat high court is hearing a similar case over illegal construction.
Officials in the urban development department said that the governor had sought details of the high court case. The governor’s office was of the opinion that there cannot be a bill on the same issue which was being heard by the high court. The governor is also likely to seek a legal opinion on the issue before giving her nod.
Jitendra Chauhan, president of The CG Road Shop Owner’s Association, said that the traders had requested an audience with the governor. “When thetraders metthe governor on Thursday, tension was high among the shop owners as everyone was on tenterhooks; no one knows what lies ahead for those having shops on CG Road. We informed the governor about our issues and the problems. Dr Kamla, after hearing the representation, said that she needs to have a closer look at the bill.”
Government officials said that they are waiting for the governor’s nod before finalizing rules for regularizing the impact fee. Sources said that the governor has also held one review meeting in the pastcouple of days to discuss the impact of the bill and its fallout.
The bill was cleared in the state assembly in last week of March during the budget session. Officials said that several non-controversial bills which were passed by the assembly were already cleared by the governor.Of the 31bills,which were sent to the governor, 16 were passed and returned to the state assembly. The other 15 were pending which included the Gujarat Regularisation of Unauthorised Development Bill and the Reservation for Women in the Local Bodies Bills.