5 yrs on, Bibi Bhani Complex incomplete

Avneet kaur

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Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 3

Twentyfour allottees of the Bibi Bhani Complex have been protesting against the authorities for not being given possession of their flats meant to be completed in 2012. Although the Jalandhar Improvement Trust constructed the complex around five years ago, the allottees have been unable to take the possession of their flats due to the lack of civil amenities in this area.

In 2009, the JIT allotted 51.5 acres for the development of Bibi Bhani Complex, announcing a self-financing scheme, five per cent reservation for the families of 1984 riots and two-storeyed apartments equipped with all basic facilities and good quality infrastructure, said president of the Bibi Bhani Residential Welfare Association Darshan Singh Ahuja.

The JIT had asked for full payment at once or in 22 installments within six months till 2012 after which a 12.5 per cent interest was to be charged. The flats were priced at more than 10 lakh. The authority had promised the possession of the flats in 2012, Ahuja said. “Although the JIT failed to provide any basic amenities in the area including roads, street lights, water and sewerage system, it has also constructed 24 flats less than what was promised to us. Twenty four members of our organisation who have paid for the apartments are still running from pillar to post to get their possession. Five years on, the JIT has been unable to provide them houses,” said Ahuja.

Most of the allottees belong to economically weaker sections, and had taken loans to complete pay for the property. Perturbed, they have now demanded to get civic amenities in the area, including the approach road or else want their money back with complete interest of five years. The allottees have also slammed the JIT for constructing poor quality flats, many of whom have also become unsafe to use. Despite several requests being made to the JIT for allotting the possession to flat owners and maintenance of the area, there has been no response from the administration so far.

On May 18, the JIT issued a letter to the allottees to claim the possession of flats by May 25 but no official turned up at the venue to hand over flats to the allottees and even didn’t take calls made repeatedly by them. Later, JIT officials promised to meet the allottees and hand over the flats to families on May 28. 

“We reached there by 10 am and waited till 1 pm as nobody from the administration came. Administration officer Raj Kumar finally visited the site late afternoon to allot the respective flats to the allottees, but had no knowledge of the flat numbers,” alleged Darshan Singh. However, when one of the flat owners, SK Marwaha, who was allotted flat number 90 entered his flat, it was found to be incomplete and lousy with inconvenient entry and no proper ceiling.

The allottees have now demanded return of complete money with 24 per cent interest. If the JIT fails to provide it within one week, the allottees have threatened to turn to roads, hold bike rallies and sit on dharna in front of the JIT office.

JIT Chief Executive Officer Jatinder Kumar, who has recently joined the post, said he had received the complaint from the allottees and would take the necessary action.

Promise not fulfilled

• In 2009, Jalandhar Improvement Trust allotted 51.5 acres for the development of Bibi Bhani Complex, announcing a self-financing scheme, five per cent reservation for the families of 1984 riots and two-storeyed apartments equipped with all basic facilities and good-quality infrastructure. The authority had promised the possession of the flats in 2012
• On May 28 this year, JIT officials called allottees for possession of flats, but mismanaged the process. The authority has been condemned for construction of poor quality flats without basic amenities
• The allottees have now demanded return of complete money with 24 per cent interest and threatened to hold protest if the JIT failed to do so. JIT Chief Executive Officer Jatinder Kumar said he had received  complaints from the allottees and would take the necessary action.