15 yrs on, Amritsar residents await basic amenities

Neeraj Bagga

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Amritsar, June 17

Even after 15 years, residents of two localities — Roseland and Swiss City — situated on the Mahal Bypass in the city, are a harried lot.

Reason: They are still waiting to get basic amenities despite the developer giving it in writing that the Amritsar Development Authority (ADA) could forfeit the guarantee amount in case it was unable to carry out the development. Occupants of about 25 houses situated in these colonies find themselves in lurch. They are crying for attention of the authorities.

Anguished with the ADA for not providing them civic amenities in their areas, they said their routine life was affected due to the absence of regular water supply, street lights, proper roads and other amenities.

They said the onus falls on the government to develop these two colonies situated next to each other as the developer had given it in writing that they were not in a position to carry out development works and the authorities could use their guarantee for development in these colonies. Besides, the licence of the developer lapsed in 2012 and was never renewed since then. After confirming the compliance of PUDA norms, the ADA had approved these localities in 2006 and 2007. Yet the development works in these colonies are incomplete so far.

Sukhdev Singh, a resident of Swiss City locality staying here for the last 7-8 years, said inhabitants of these localities were suffering because neither the ADA nor the MC were coming forward to complete the half-finished works. Residents are facing difficulties despite procuring plots in approved colonies and building houses with approved plans. The trauma of not getting amenities despite investing their hard-earned lifesaving was extremely damaging.

Lovejit Kalsi, Additional Chief Administrator of ADA, said as per the records available with the department, Roseland was handed over to the MC in 2016 and Swiss City in 2019.

The MC Commissioner had recommended registration of an FIR against the developer of the Swiss City to the Police Commissioner, which was further earmarked to Kamboh police. Investigating Officer ASI Ravinder Singh said the investigation was underway.

Skattar Singh said he raised a dwelling over 200 square yard of land in Swiss City, but could not shift due to denial of regular connection by the PSPCL. PSPCL officials said the coloniser did not secure the NOC from their department so they cannot issue any power connection to these two localities.

Dr Vinay Sukhija said over nine years ago, when his family shifted here, the development was in full swing and it was a matter of months for it to complete. He said now, the promised boundary wall around the locality was lying broken at many places. Consequently, addicts and thieves enter residential areas and the number of theft cases has shot up as well.

Jasbir Singh, another resident, said the dwellers pooled in their money to foot the expenses to make the sewerage functional, to repair street lights and cut the growth of unwanted vegetation from vacant plots. He said the developer paid nearly Rs 16 lakh for the Swiss City and around Rs 9 lakh for Roseland locality as a guarantee amount. He said over a year ago, the developer, expressing his inability to carry out the work, wrote to the department concerned. Now, the government must divert the guarantee amount for the development of these two residential areas, he said.