5 luxury flats in Manimajra society to be converted into 25 EWS units
The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has allotted the work for the construction of 25 EWS flats in Uppal Marble Arch Housing Society in Manimajra.
The work has been allotted seven years after the MC Additional Commissioner passed an order for the construction of flats for economically weaker sections (EWS) in the society. A tender for Rs 1.25 crore work has been allotted to a Mohali-based firm.
As per the tender, 25 EWS flats will be constructed by converting five existing flats to meet the condition that the housing project ignored earlier. The Additional Commissioner had passed the order on December 12, 2018, while exercising the power of the Estate Officer under the Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulation) Act, 1952, for the construction of EWS flats.
In 2005, the MC had sold the land to the builder and over 160 four-bedroom luxury apartments were constructed in 2009. Delhi-based Uppal Housing had bought a 5.39-acre plot in Mani Majra for Rs 108 crore in an auction for the housing project.
Later, it was found that the provision of 15% EWS houses was overlooked by the builder.
The lapse came to light when the builder submitted the building plan and moved an application to the UT Administration to get the occupation certificate.
The UT Administration had approved the zoning plan of 5.39 acres, with the rider that 15% of the total numbers of houses should be constructed for the EWS category, having a minimum area of 200 square feet.
After that the Municipal Corporation directed the management of Uppal Housing Society, Mani Majra, to refrain from selling any property and construct 15% EWS flats.
The MC had issued a show-cause notice to the builder for not constructing EWS houses, according to the revised building plan.
After the order of the MC Additional Commissioner the builder also deposited Rs 1.50 crore as penalty for the delay in the construction of the flats.
The issue also rocked the general house meetings of Municipal Corporation many times. The matter even reached the Vigilance Department. When the MC floated a tender for the construction work in 2018, the society residents moved a petition before the Chief Administrator challenging the MC order.
In the petition, the residents contended that the builder had never got the building plan sanctioned for the purpose of the change of the location of the EWS flats. The residents argued when partial completion certificates were granted in 2010 there was no provision of EWS flats in any tower.
They contended that the occupants or the residents of the society were kept in the dark about any requirement of EWS flats. However, their petition was dismissed and the MC Additional Commissioner’s order was upheld.
Chandigarh