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CHANDIGARH: The Municipal Corporation (MC) has initiated a high-value housing project in Manimajra with a reserve price of approximately Rs 800 crore, raising significant concerns due to the lack of a formal policy for allocating 15% of housing units to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), as required by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
This issue is notably sensitive given the ongoing Vigilance investigation into the Uppal Housing Society in Manimajra. Though launched in 2005, the society did not construct or allot any EWS houses, violating zoning requirements. This oversight is currently under investigation, focusing on potential irregularities, negligence, and possible criminal actions. The officials and employees involved in the project during that time are subject to scrutiny, with the Punjab and Haryana High Court monitoring the situation.
Sources indicated that the Vigilance department’s inquiry into the Uppal Housing case, where EWS units were never built, had prompted calls for the establishment of an EWS policy to ensure eligible individuals receive flats. However, the authority has been reluctant to formulate such a policy. Currently, the MC is hastily moving to sell 7.7 acres of land without this necessary framework. “Previously, the Vigilance officer highlighted the necessity of an EWS policy during the investigation. They also requested detailed records from MC employees. Since a policy is crucial for planning the housing society, the Vigilance is focusing on this issue,” sources added.
Internal confirmations from within the MC revealed that the matter has been discussed in prior general house meetings, with findings showing that EWS housing was never developed in the Uppal project. After nearly two decades, the MC’s engineering department has initiated construction of EWS units in this society, with a tender of Rs 1.22 crore awarded based on a revised building plan issued by the Chandigarh administration in 2011.
The lack of a formal EWS housing policy in Chandigarh raises questions regarding the legality and fairness of the upcoming Manimajra project. Although the planning department approved zoning that includes a 15% EWS quota, there are no straightforward guidelines concerning eligibility, pricing, or allocation. This absence may lead to additional legal issues and public dissent.
As the MC progresses, a critical decision looms: Should they delay the project until a comprehensive EWS policy is established, or proceed without one, risking a repetition of historical errors? The ramifications will significantly impact housing equity, governance transparency, and public confidence in civic institutions.
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