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PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ., SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 (BHDR 13, 1948 SAKA)
1797
Published by Authority
No. 36]
CHANDIGARH, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 (BHADRA 13, 1948 SAKA)
PART I
Punjab Government Notifications and Orders
( 1797 )
GOVERNMENT OF PUNJAB
WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
(Irrigation Personnel-3 Branch)
NOTIFICATION
The 31st August, 2026
No:WR-IRP3017/70/2026-3IP3/I/1488523/2026.-The Governor of Punjab is pleased to formulate
Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) and Timeline for processing of Approval to be issued for "Photography
Permission" for the integration of WRD Portal with the Invest Punjab Business First Portal, is framed as under:-
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PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ., SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 (BHDR 13, 1948 SAKA)
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•
Maximum time for approval is 7 days after the submission of complete application on the Portal.
•
The Mechanism followed is 3-3-1 (3 days for pre-scrutiny, 3 days for detailed scrutiny and 1 days for
follow-up query).
•
The application shall be deemed to be approved if the time for approval (i.e. sum total of time for which
application is present with the department) exceeds 7 days.
•
In case of shooting is cancelled or application is declined due to any reason before final approval, than
25% of total fee paid as processing fee, is non-refundable.
NOTE:-
A. Withdrawal of Applications
All the regulatory application submitted on IP-BFP Portal will provide the applicant the option of withdrawing
the application when the application is pending for observations/clarification at applicant end. The application
can be withdrawn at: -
1. Scrutiny stage: In case the applicant is unable to complete the application or provide requisite documents,
or
2. Processing Stage: When an observation or clarification is raised to the applicant and the applicant
is unable to provide the requisite response or doesn't have the necessary compliance.
In case of withdrawn application, the applicant will always have to submit a new application, when he is
ready to pursue the regulatory clearance.
B. Deactivation of Application mechanism:-
In case an application pending at the applicant end for resolution of observation/clarification for 30 days
and there is no response or action from applicant on the application, then three reminders will be send
every 3 working days to the applicant to respond the observations, else the application will be deactivated
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PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ., SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 (BHDR 13, 1948 SAKA)
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from the system. Failure to comply within the stipulated timeframe shall result in the automatic removal of
the application from the portal. The applicant will have to submit a fresh application whenever he wants
to pursue the regulatory clearance as the facts of the case would have changed and under no scenario a
closed application can be revived.
C. Escalation Mechanism for Rejection
Any of the regulatory applications if to be rejected, can only be rejected by the competent authority of the
respective clearance as per the requisite policy/notification(s). The other officers in the workflow may
propose the case for rejection, which will be escalated to the competent authority who shall review and
issue the rejection, if found appropriate. Else the competent authority may direct the concerned to
re-examine the case if grounds of rejection are not considered appropriate.
A case which has been proposed for rejection cannot be deemed approved while still being reviewed by
the competent authority for further action. The XEN/HQ may have 2 working days to decide a case
proposed for rejection.
The rejection may be in the following cases:-
I.
During the scrutiny stage, where the applicant fails to rectify the deficiencies or submit a complete
application in response to the observations raised by the Division, the application may be proposed for
rejection/return by recording reasons therefor.
II. During the processing stage, after the applicant has responded to the observation as well as final clarification,
if the case is yet not fit for approval, the same may be rejected on merits/demerits by the competent
authority as per the policy.
Deemed Approval Mechanism
•
Wherever the provision of Deemed Approval is applicable under the Punjab Right to Business Act, 2020,
the Punjab Right to Business Rules, 2021, or any other policy/instructions issued by the Government from
time to time, the applications received through the Invest Punjab Portal shall be processed accordingly.
The concerned authorities shall ensure strict adherence to the timelines prescribed under this SOP. The
application shall be deemed to be approved if the time for approval (i.e. sum total of time for which
application is present with the department) exceeds 7 days.
E. Applicability
The provisions of this Standard Operating Procedure shall be applicable to all applications for Photoshoot
permissions received through the Water Resources Department Portal, Invest Punjab Portal, or any other
Government-approved digital platform notified by the Government from time to time.
KRISHAN KUMAR, IAS
Chandigarh
Principal Secretary, Govt. of Punjab,
The 24th August, 2026
Department of Water Resources.
3816$9-2026/Pb. Govt. Press, S.A.S. Nagar