The Newz Radar
SHIMLA: In a move benefiting building and plot owners, the Himachal Pradesh government has granted permission for the utilisation of attics as residential spaces. The Town and Country Planning Department has issued a notification outlining the revised regulations and the corresponding fees based on square metre basis. The fee ranges from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
The permissible height of the attic (towards one point) has been increased from zero to 0.75 metres. Under the new regulation, building owners will enjoy free usage rights up to 0.75 metres. However, for attics exceeding a height of seven feet (2.1 metres), owners will be required to pay the appropriate fee.
Devesh Kumar, Principal Secretary of the Town and Country Planning Department, has issued the notification. The decision provides relief to building owners and simultaneously generates revenue for the government. It marks the first time the state government has allowed attics to be utilised for residential purpose. Moreover, the sale of attics will now be permitted, overturning the previous restriction on their sale.
Building owners would be granted electricity and water connections in the attics, said an official. “The government emphasises that the height of buildings in specific areas will be considered in line with the development plan, allowing for proportional increase in attic size. The fee charged will correspond to the residential area of the attic,” he said. This decision is expected to benefit approximately 20,000 plot and building owners across Himachal Pradesh, as per the Town and Country Planning Department.
