SRINAGAR: In a move aimed at bringing uniformity and transparency to the building approval process, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday notified a uniform building permission fee structure to be implemented across all Urban Local Bodies and Development Authorities in the Union Territory with immediate effect. The Housing and Urban Development Department issued the order under the Jammu and Kashmir Unified Building Bye-Laws, 2021, saying the decision was taken to end the existing disparity in building permission charges levied by different municipal bodies and development authorities. In addition, a compounding fee equivalent to 40 per cent of the applicable building permission fee for the respective land use will be levied wherever applicable. Religious buildings have been exempted from payment of building permission fees. The building permission fee will be calculated on the basis of the total permissible or approved built-up area in accordance with the Unified Building Bye-Laws, 2021.