Sec 63 CHB flats not ready for PM’s visit

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 2

While only nine days are left for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the city to inaugurate the General Self-Financing Housing Scheme-2008 at Sector 63 on September 11, work on the housing project is yet to be completed.

UT Adviser Vijay Kumar Dev, who visited the site along with senior UT officials, was visibly unhappy with the preparations. Dev told officials, “Don’t take it lightly.”

At the site, roads are yet to be constructed while the finishing work in flats is still in progress.

Keeping in mind the security, UT IG RP Upadhyay pointed towards shanties opposite the housing project and ordered that these shanties be removed from the site.

UT Adviser Vijay Kumar Dev issued directions to UT Finance Secretary Sarvjit Singh and officials and staff of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) to deploy more manpower and machinery of the UT and the MC Engineering Department to complete the work within the stipulated time.

SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill said the visit was an eye-opener. What will happen if the PM expresses the desire to visit the entire housing complex, which is not ready yet? he asked.

On September 11, the PM will hand over possession letters and keys of flats to some of the beneficiaries.

The General Self-Financing Housing Scheme-2008 in Sector 63 was was launched by the CHB under which 2,108 flats comprising 336 three bedroom, 888 two bedroom, 564 one bedroom and 320 EWS flats were built.

Dev inspects stage site

UT Adviser Vijay Kumar Dev and other officials inspected the area where the Administration is likely to set up a stage.

CHB officials missing

Despite the Sector 63 flats being a CHB project, during the Adviser’s visit on Wednesday, no senior officials or the Chief Engineer of the CHB were present at the spot. Dev spoke to CHB Chairman Maninder Singh over the phone regarding the status of the project. Sources said due to a communication gap, CHB officials were not present at the site.

Board needs finances to stand on its feet

The CHB Chairman said various schemes and initiatives being taken by the board were aimed at generating resources failing which the board would go the Super Bazar way. Due to refund of money to Parsvnath and the Income Tax Department in the land deal, the CHB had landed in the red.

UT urged to increase FAR

The CHB unanimously resolved that considering the paucity of land in the city, the Chandigarh Administration would be requested to increase the floor area ratio (FAR) in the southern sectors from the present 1.5 to 2 for group housing schemes on the pattern of the Punjab Urban Development Authority where the FAR varied from 2 to 3.

CHB wants heritage restrictions relaxed

The CHB unanimously resolved to take up with the Chandigarh Administration the issue of restrictions imposed on the entire city on heritage grounds and to request it to confine the restrictions imposed on buildings and development in the heritage city  to sectors  north of Dakshin Marg as in the case of Lutyens Building Zone in New Delhi. In the remaining part of the city, the height restriction on buildings should be relaxed as 16-storeyed structures under group housing schemes are allowed in neighboring Mohali. Similarly, in Panchkula, up to 14 storeys are permitted.