Punjab CM Launches PUDA-UCIC App To Check Illegal Construction

In two path-breaking initiatives, Punjab Chief Minister launched a unique mobile App to check unauthorized construction, and also unveiled a new web portal of the housing department for issuance of electronic change of land use (E-CLU).

Facts :

• Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh launched a mobile app to check unauthorised construction, and also unveiled a new web portal of the housing department for online issuance of change of land use.
• While the app will enable quick action to stop any ongoing illegal construction, the web portal will facilitate easy land use change and help citizens track any such change.
• The android-based App, known as PUDA-UCIC (Unauthorised constructions and illegal colonies), opened for public use in Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) region, which intends that the public after downloading the app on their mobile phones, can share any activity pertaining to the illegal constructions and colonies noticed by them with the department.
• With this app, the field staff and public would be able to click pictures of any unauthorised construction from the spot and upload them for further action.
• The satellite and geo tagging based app will provide the unique details of the location, enabling the officials to take quick action to stop the ongoing illegal construction and illegal colonies on the land.
• Complaints would automatically be assigned to concerned officials based on GIS maps and GPS locations, and alerts would go out to the concerned officials by SMS and email.
• Housing and urban development department has also pioneered a web portal under ease of doing business where in developer shall be able to get change of land use through online portal itself without having to visit the office.
• The provisional CLU shall be available instantly to the developer after self certification of the details of his land and the final CLU shall be made available within 30 days after back end checking of documents about the land by the department.
• E-CLU shall ease out the developer in getting clearance and streamline the whole process in the department.

Analysis :

• The Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology awarded Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) and Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) Chief Administrator Ravi Bhagat for his innovation to develop a mobile application to track unauthorised constructions and colonies in the state.
• The award, ‘Gems of Digital India’, was presented during a special function held in New Delhi.
• The app acts as an online watchdog to check the menace of unauthorised constructions and colonies in the state.
• Since its launch, the app has proved to be quite effective as about 300 complaints against unauthorised constructions and colonies across the state have been registered through the app and necessary action on maximum complaints, which includes issuance of notices and demolition, have been taken.
• IT initiatives of the department aimed at public good have been recognised from time to time as last year the ‘mpuda’ mobile application was given the SKOCH Order of Merit Award. The PUDA-UCIC award has also been selected for the SKOCH Order of Merit Award.

By: Harman Sandhu