Tag: Chandigarh

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Chandigarh housing board delays Sector 53 scheme

CHANDIGARH: There has been no new residential project in nearly a decade, and the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) is again faltering in launching the long-planned Sector 53 self-financing housing scheme. After conducting a successful demand survey for the scheme earlier this year, the CHB is now back to square one as it is set to refund the applicants of the survey their deposited money. In the survey for the scheme held in Feb-March this year, nearly 7,500 applicants expressed their interest in 372 flats. In a previous survey (2018-19), the scheme received only 178 applications. Applicants deposited Rs 5,000 to…

Regulatory

Chandigarh civic body asks PU, PGI to clear ₹93 crore in property tax dues

CHANDIGARH: Staring at its empty coffers — a situation which hasn’t changed much in the past more than a year amid its worst-ever financial health, the Chandigarh municipal corporation has intensified efforts to boost its own revenue sources, including recovery of pending dues. Following extensive reconciliation efforts, the civic body, which has long struggled to make top property tax payers clear their dues running into crores, has raised fresh demands with Panjab University and PGI, Chandigarh, to pay up their property tax and service charges, pending for years. The authority has asked the PGI to clear Rs 24.1 crore in…

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Houses outside lal dora in Chandigarh to get water connections but at a hefty price

CHANDIGARH: The BJP-led municipal corporation did approve the agenda of temporary water connections for residents living outside the lal dora at 22 villages in the city, but with a caveat. The civic body has imposed double domestic charges and hefty construction charges, much to the chagrin of opposition parties, which protested against the financial burden. According to the opposition, water connections should be provided without imposing double domestic charges and construction charges on old buildings. Regardless of their protests, the mayor and BJP councillors approved the agenda. Objecting to this, AAP councillor Hardeep Singh said, “Water connection is required, but…

Industry

Punjab cabinet approves land pooling policy

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Cabinet on Monday gave its nod to the Land Pooling Policy with Cabinet minister Aman Arora asserting that not even a single yard will be forcibly acquired from land owners. The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, was held here. After the meeting, renewable energy minister Arora slammed the opposition parties for allegedly misleading people about the state government’s Land Pooling Policy for the past several days. Arora claimed that there is no better Land Pooling Policy than this one, not only in the state but also in the country. Pointing towards the opposition parties,…

Infrastructure

Illegal construction begins at sector 17 collapsed building site, Chandigarh DC orders probe

CHANDIGARH: In what it appears to be a blatant violation of norms, illegal construction has started at a site in Sector 17 which once housed a famous three-bay building that collapsed on Jan 6 all due to gross negligence and violation of safety measures. While the debris of the collapsed building was cleared from the site a few days back, multiple iron columns have now come up at the spot despite the fact that the UT estate office has not approved a revised building plan for the site so far. The estate office has now decided to probe the entire…

Regulatory

Chandigarh civic body collects ₹60 crore property tax during two-month rebate period

CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh municipal corporation has achieved an unprecedented property tax collection of approximately Rs 60 crore during April and May rebate period. Citizens submitted payments via e-Sampark Centres and banks, with e-Sampark Centres, which operated until 8pm on Saturday, receiving the majority of payments. The final figures might increase slightly, but this collection marks the highest amount ever received during a two-month rebate period. The detailed breakdown of residential and commercial property tax collections will be published on Monday after data compilation. Sources indicate that whilst commercial properties contributed the larger share of the amount, residential property owners represented…

Industry

Chandigarh civic body set to proceed after getting estate office’s nod on freehold

CHANDIGARH: The estate office of the Chandigarh administration has informed the municipal corporation that they dispose of their residential properties on a freehold basis, but only after obtaining prior approval from the competent authority of the UT. Meanwhile, the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) informed the MC that they do not engage in activities involving the disposal of chunks of land. The responses from both EO and CHB came after the MC sent them a letter inquiring about their mode of land disposal for residential purposes, whether leasehold or freehold. This information was sought to aid in planning the disposal of…

Infrastructure

Punjab CM says no forced acquisition under land pooling policy, all about development

PATIALA: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday addressed sought to clear what he described as “misconceptions” surrounding the state’s land pooling policy and the govt’s plan to acquire 24,000 acres in Ludhiana’s suburbs. In an interaction with people during his ‘AAP Sarkar, Aapke Duwar’ event in Patiala, Mann said the state govt was not acquiring land forcibly, but was, instead, seeking the consent and input of farmers and landowners for sustainable urban development projects. Rejecting claims by opposition parties that the scheme was a scam, Mann said it was transparent and public-friendly. “Some (opposition parties) are creating baseless panic……

Residential

Chandigarh: CHB considers new demand survey after prices of flats increase sharply

Representative Image CHANDIGARH: An increase in the price of flats in the proposed Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB), Sector 53 self-financing housing scheme has prompted the board to consider a fresh demand survey. It is also considering offering an option to existing applicants of the latest demand survey to accept increased price of flats. In the demand survey for the scheme held in February-March this year, nearly 7,500 applicants expressed interest in 372 flats. In a previous survey (2018-19), the scheme received only 178 applications. Applicants deposited Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 under the demand survey, depending on the category of…