High cost shatters housing dreams

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 14

The exorbitant prices of flats have dashed the hopes of many employees, who have decided to opt out of the housing scheme launched in 2008.

Sources said at least 50 employees had applied for a refund of the earnest money deposited for the scheme.

The Administration had launched the UT Employees Self-Financing Housing Scheme in 2008 on a no-profit, no-loss basis.

Approximately 4,000 employees were declared successful in the draw of lots under which flats of various categories were to be constructed. The scheme faced many hurdles. However, when the scheme was finally approved last year, it gave them a rude shock. The Ministry of Home Affairs directed the UT to allot land on the basis of the current collector rates of the area. This increased the cost of the land manifold.

When the scheme was launched, the price of a three-bedroom flat was fixed at Rs 34.70 lakh, that of a two-bedroom flat at Rs 24.30 lakh, one-bedroom at Rs 13.53 lakh and of an EWS category flat at Rs 5.76 lakh.

However, the CHB has now fixed Rs 1.76 crore as the price for a three-bedroom (BHK) flat, Rs 1.35 crore for a two BHK flat, Rs 99 lakh for a one BHK flat and Rs 58.07 lakh for a one BHK (EWS) flat under the scheme. The huge cost fixed by the Administration has left the employees in a fix.

The UT Employees Housing Welfare Society general secretary, Dr Dharamender, said employees had faith in the court where the issue was pending. He said though some employees had got their refund and pulled out the scheme, the society would fight till get justice.

Prices of proposed flats

Then

When the scheme was launched, the price of a three-bedroom flat was fixed at Rs 34.70 lakh, that of a two-bedroom flat at Rs24.30 lakh, one-bedroom at Rs13.53 lakh and of an EWS category flat at Rs5.76 lakh.

Now

However, the CHB has now fixed Rs1.76 crore as the price for a three-bedroom (BHK) flat, Rs1.35 crore for a two BHK flat, Rs99 lakh for a one BHK flat and Rs58.07 lakh for a one BHK (EWS) flat under the scheme.