PANCHKULA: In the lead-up to the upcoming MC elections, the three colony rehabilitation initiatives approved by the Panchkula municipal corporation six months ago have failed to progress.
The land in question is owned by the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) and the forest department, leaving the MC without authority to make any decisions. No final approvals have been provided, and action must come from the relevant departments.
Excitedly, MC Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal previously announced a proposal to regularize illegal colonies by offering one-marla residential plots at collector rates from 2004 to families who have resided there for over 20 years. Targeted colonies included Indira Colony, Rajiv Colony, Gandhi Colony, and Khadak Mangoli in the district.
The proposal was subsequently passed in the MC house without any implementation agenda.
According to the October status report from the MC, the colonies identified in the proposal—Rajiv, Indira, and Khadak Mangoli—are located on land owned by the HSVP. As such, the responsibility for allotting plots to residents rests with the respective authority.
The report adds, “Additionally, following directives from higher authorities, survey work in (only) village Bhainsa Tibba (Gandhi Colony) was executed by municipal corporation employees, with demarcation carried out by the Patwari of Mauja Bhainsa Tibba in the presence of both MC and HSVP officials on September 10 and 11. Thus, further action in this matter must also be undertaken by the HSVP.”
Another item cleared by the civic body was aimed at providing essential services to residents of the unauthorized Manav Colony near Saketri.
However, six months later, the MC’s status report reveals that “On May 24, 2023, the MC wrote to the director of urban local bodies requesting approval for six colonies, including Manav Colony. The ULB director rejected the proposal, stating that the colonies do not comply with governmental norms. Additionally, the area in question is on land belonging to the HSVP, meaning any subsequent action must be directed by that authority.”
Similarly, a proposal to allocate one-marla plots in Beed Ghaggar based on the “government’s 20 years policy” has also not been acted upon and stands as an unexecuted announcement. The report notes, “This location is situated on land owned by the forest department. Hence, necessary actions must be taken by the forest department.”
