Chandigarh Housing Board to take call on need-based policy notified in 2023

Hanging fire for the past more than two-and-a-half years, the Board of Directors of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) will take a decision on the need-based policy notified in January 2023.

A member of the board said the need-based changes notified on January 3, 2023, were put on hold after a decision of the Supreme Court dated January 10, 2023, wherein increase in the Floor Area Ration was frozen. The member said the notification was issued on January 3, whereas the order was passed by the apex court on January 10, and as such, the order could not be implemented retrospectively.

The member further said the issue would now be taken up in a meeting of the Board of Directors to be held soon.

Notably, occupants of the dwelling units have been opposing the notification issued in January 2023, claiming it reverses previous relaxations and categorises these as violations. The board had revised its need-based policy five times since 2010.

The January 2023 policy has been under scrutiny for not covering previous need-based changes and withdrawing many relaxations.

Allottees of the CHB houses have demanded withdrawal of the policy notified on January 3 and the formulation of a comprehensive alternative.

The policy prohibits construction in front of middle-income group (MIG) duplex flats and extra room on the first floor in duplex ones. Approximately 55,000 of the 62,000 dwelling units have violations, including additional rooms, converted balconies, covered courtyards, etc.

The first need-based policy was notified on March 23, 2010, and on July 7, 2015, February 18, 2016, February 15, 2019, and on January 3, 2023.

In the policies notified in 2010, 2015 and 2016, the board had allowed the construction of a projection/balcony in front of MIG duplex flats with pillars below. However, it was rejected in the policies of 2019 and 2023 and was termed a violation.

Similarly, the CHB had allowed the construction of an extra room on the first floor in duplex flats over the roof of the proposed ground floor room in the policies of 2010, 2015, 2016 and 2019, but it was forbidden for residents of Sector 41-A.