Furnish info on year-wise EDC collection, use: HC

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 5

Just about five months after the rains brought life to a standstill while washing away the claims of the waterlogging-free Gurgaon, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked Haryana to specify year-wise collection and utilisation of external development charges(EDC).

On a previous date of hearing, the Bench had taken note of the fact that approximately Rs 13,984.64 crore was collected in 14 years since 2002. The Bench had then asked the authorities to specify how much amount out the total collection was spent and for what. The Bench had also asked the authorities concerned to elaborate upon the steps initiated to prevent waterlogging.

Appearing for the Society of Urban Regeneration of Gurgaon, senior advocate Manmohan Lal Sarin informed the Bench that the situation had hardly registered any improvement as the requisite amount on infrastructure had not been spent.

The developments took place during the hearing of a petition filed in public interest by the society.

The petition hovers around the issue of “utterly inadequate” infrastructure in Gurgaon despite the collection of crores as external development charges.