Give ownership rights to rehab colony dwellers: Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari

There is an “urgent need” to grant ownership rights to residents of rehabilitation colonies without further delay. This was stated by Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari during a meeting of the Administrator’s Advisory Council (AAC) here today.

During the meeting, the MP highlighted several pressing issues. He asserted that need-based modifications in Chandigarh Housing Board residential buildings must be permitted without delay, adding that “the issuance of frivolous notices must come to an end”. He emphasised that Lal Dora in the 22 villages should be erased without delay.

He also stressed that share-wise sale of property across Chandigarh must be resumed immediately. “The issues and challenges of cooperative housing and group housing societies must be addressed with dispatch,” the MP said.

The meeting was chaired by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, who emphasised that building a future-ready Chandigarh required collective efforts from both the Administration and members of the council. He appreciated the active role played by the Standing Committees in assisting the Administration in strengthening governance and improving public services across various sectors.

Tewari also said a Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) for Chandigarh should be implemented at the earliest. He stressed that the governance structure of the Municipal Corporation must be radically overhauled. “Also, the Chandigarh Mayor should be elected directly by all residents for a five-year term,” he said.

Senior BJP leader Sanjay Tandon urged the Administration to allow employees of Chandigarh Transport Undertaking to rejoin their duties at the earliest. He also called for the early resumption of share-wise property transfers, early decisions on issues related to Lal Dora areas, problems faced in the Industrial Area, the methodology for transfer of flats in housing societies, and the conversion of properties from leasehold to freehold. He also stressed the need to plan for a metro system in Chandigarh to meet future transportation needs, and suggested the construction of a Vyapari Bhawan for traders.

Advocate Ajay Jagga suggested that videography for registration of wills should be made mandatory and facilitation charges levied at Sampark Centres on the cost of stamp papers be reviewed.

Chandigarh Resident Associations Welfare Federation (CRAWFED) chairman Hitesh Puri said on the one hand, the CHB was proposing redevelopment of flats in 2033 and on the other hand it was issuing notice for demolition of violations. Puri said the CHB should stop issuing notices for violations and rather charge some compounding fees for the violations till the process of redevelopment began.

Trader leader Kamaljit Singh Panchhi also raised the issue of abrupt suspension of share-wise property registration.

Meanwhile, the administrative secretaries of the UT Administration presented the action taken report on the suggestions made during the earlier council meetings with regard to various departmental matters.