DT
PT
Subscribe To Print Edition About The Tribune Code Of Ethics Download App Advertise with us Classifieds
search-icon-img
search-icon-img
Advertisement

No ownership rights for rehab scheme beneficiaries: Centre

34,965 houses built under various schemes in Chandigarh since 1980
  • fb
  • twitter
  • whatsapp
  • whatsapp
Advertisement

In a setback to thousands of occupants of houses allotted under the rehabilitation scheme in the city, the Union Government has made it clear that there is no provision to give ownership rights to them.

Raising the issue during the Budget Session of Parliament, Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari today asked the Home Minister about the total number of houses built under various rehabilitation schemes in Chandigarh since 1980; whether the Union Government is aware of any survey conducted by the Estate Office of Chandigarh to ascertain the ownership rights of houses under various rehabilitation schemes in Chandigarh, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

Promise not kept

It is very unfortunate that the BJP government is short-changing poor people by not giving them the ownership rights as promised in the 2014, 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections. — Manish Tewari, Chandigarh MP

He further asked whether the Union Government plans to grant ownership rights to allottees of rehabilitation homes in Chandigarh; if so, whether the government also plans to uplift the ban on property conversion from leasehold to freehold through General Power of Attorney (GPA) in Chandigarh; and if not, the reasons does the Government have for not providing ownership rights to the allottees of rehabilitation homes?

Advertisement

In response to the questions raised by Tewari, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai stated that 34,965 houses have been built under various rehabilitation schemes in Chandigarh since 1980. “These houses were allotted to economically weaker sections of society on monthly licence fee basis or leasehold basis. There is no provision to grant ownership rights in these rehabilitation schemes,” the Minister clarified.

Under the rehabilitation schemes, several colonies, including Bapu Dham Colony, Ramdarbar, etc have been set up in the city.

Advertisement

“It is very unfortunate that the BJP government is short changing poor people and not giving them ownership rights as they had promised in the 2014, 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections,” said Tewari.

The UT Estate Office had, in December 2023, concluded an extensive survey of such units to determine the fate of current occupants — whether to grant them ownership rights or initiate action. The survey indicated that a large number of these houses are no longer inhabited by their original allottees. Despite residents seeking ownership rights, the UT emphasised that houses obtained through the General Power of Attorney (GPA) are not considered legally purchased.

Many houses allotted under the scheme, which can neither be rented out nor put up for resale, had changed hands multiple times. Most of these houses were leased under the rehabilitation scheme in 1979, yet a large number of the units no longer belong to original lessees. A ban on transferring houses based on the GPA has been in place since a Supreme Court ruling in 2011.

Tewari also sought to know the details of the budgetary allocation for Chandigarh in the Union Budget from 2019 to 2024, year-wise; the total expenditure made by the Chandigarh Administration during the same period, year-wise, scheme-wise and head-wise.

The MP further asked the reasons why the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation was receiving an average annual allocation of only Rs 560 crore despite being responsible for the majority of the city’s operations; and the details of justification does the Union Government have for not implementing the revenue-sharing formula of the Delhi Finance Commission, which stipulates that 30 per cent of the total budget should be allocated to the local bodies i.e. Municipal Corporations?

In reply to the questions, the Minister stated that as per rules, the year-wise budgetary allocation, and the scheme-wise and head-wise expenditure out of it, for each financial year, are mentioned in the Detailed Demand for Grants (DDG), which is available in the public domain.

“The annual allocation to the Municipal Corporation is made taking into account the overall budget of the Union Territory of Chandigarh and the estimated revenue receipts of the Municipal Corporation,” the Minister added.

On the denial of 30 per cent of the Budget of Chandigarh to the Municipal Corporation contrary to the directions of the Delhi Finance Commission, Tewari said again the BJP government obfuscated and refused to give 30 per cent of the budget to the MC.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
tlbr_img1 Home tlbr_img2 Opinion tlbr_img3 Classifieds tlbr_img4 Videos tlbr_img5 E-Paper