128 Colony No. 4 dwellers allotted flats in Maloya

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 20

About 128 slum-dwellers of Colony No. 4 were allotted flats in Maloya today.

Though the first batch of 256 slum-dwellers was to be allotted flats today, due to long process and rush, about 128 dwellers could be given possession of the flats.

Residents said they started queuing up at a government school in the colony at 9 am where they were to be verified. However, they rued they had to wait for their turn till evening.

“We stood in the queue at 9 am and now it’s 3 pm and still our turn hasn’t come. The process is too long and it is causing harassment to us,” said Nagendra Singh, one of the applicants.

The queues were so long that in the morning it extended to the road outside the school gate. After verifying their basic details, the slum-dwellers were photographed with their jhuggis by the officials. An undertaking was also taken from them.

Following this, the slum-dwellers were issued slips, which they had to show before taking possession of the flats in Maloya.

SDM (East) Arjun Sharma said, “We had set a target of about 250 applicants today and by the time the day ends, we will be able to know the final numbers.”

2,482 eligible  slum-dwellers

The process of allotment of flats for a total of 2,482 eligible slum-dwellers is likely to be completed by the end of the month. However, local councillor Shakti Devshali said they would request the officials to at least give the slum-dwellers 15 days time to demolish their jhuggis instead of three days.