Interim relief for CHB allottees

CHANDIGARH: In an interim relief to hundreds of occupants of Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) flats across the city, the board authorities today decided to withhold the process of issuing show-cause notices for building violations related to need-based changes till the time a policy on such changes is finalised by the board.

A file photo

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 17

In an interim relief to hundreds of occupants of Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) flats across the city, the board authorities today decided to withhold the process of issuing show-cause notices for building violations related to need-based changes till the time a policy on such changes is finalised by the board.

In September last year, the board had started issuing notices for resumption of residential properties having building violations, creating panic among the allottees. Clear instructions were issued to the field staff to issue notices to all allottees who had raised structures in violation of the rules within the allotted area.

Citing numerous requests and representations from various stakeholders, the CHB today announced to withhold the process of issuing notices. If any fresh violations, misuse of premises and encroachment on government land are reported till the policy on need-based changes is finalised, strict action will be taken.

Chairman of the CHB Maninder Singh said the decision had been arrived at after taking a holistic view of the issue. A few days ago, the CHB had allowed the transfer of flats on the GPA without linking the case with violations.

“The notices had been issued even as the issue of allowing need-based changes in the CHB flats is under the consideration of the Chandigarh Administration. Since the Punjab and Haryana High Court has restrained the CHB from removing the violations till need-based changes are approved, the board had decided to issue notices. The nature of the violations is such that in many cases, demolishing would mean pulling down the entire structure,” said a UT official.

Rajat Malhotra, secretary of the Chandigarh Housing Board Residents Welfare Federation, while welcoming the decision, said the proposed need-based changes would solve only 10 per cent of the problem. “We have been demanding the regularisation of the structures within the boundary line and within the skyline, and giving the ownership rights to the occupants of EWS houses,” he said.

Residents hopeful of early solution

Residents are hopeful that a decision on the need-based changes will be taken soon. The Chandigarh Administration has not been able to take a decision on the implementation of the 40 need-based changes in dwelling units of the Chandigarh Housing Board, notified four years ago. The allottees were given six months to submit their revised building plans along with the violations. However, since the UT is not ready with the approved drawings, the applications of the allottees have been kept pending.

CHB mulls eco-friendly activities in residential areas/premises

The Chandigarh Housing Board is exploring the possibility of allowing some environmental-friendly commercial/cottage activities for self-employment in residential areas/premises of certain categories of allottees. Earlier in 2010, the Chandigarh Housing Board had proposed activities such as mobile repair shops, stationery shops and computer centers on the ground floors of the premises allotted under different rehabilitation schemes in different parts of Chandigarh.