Indian Express 10.06.2010
2,072 flats wait for occupants, for HUDA can’t decide on who should inaugurate
For two years now, two housing societies in Sector 26-A and Abheypur, Industrial Area, Phase I, have been ready. But the 2,000 families from Azad Colony haven’t moved in yet.
Reason: The societies haven’t been inaugurated.
The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), which has constructed the societies for rehabilitation of slum dwellers, hasn’t been able to decide who should inaugurate these. And the list of dignitaries has only two names — Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Union Minister for Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja.
According to sources, the flats were set to be inaugurated in early 2009 by Hooda, but the plan was shelved at the last moment in absence of a consensus between local Congress leaders and HUDA.
While HUDA was keen that the societies be inaugurated by the CM, a faction of Congress leaders said Selja, being the Dalit face of Congress in the state, should do so.
Sources said even an inaugural stone bearing Hooda and Selja’s names was placed in Sector 26, but it was removed.
“There is no such issue between the CM and the Union minister. We are not aware that the flats have not been handed over because of some alleged differences between the two. There have been times when Hooda and Selja have shared a common platform on functions,” Sunder Pal, media adviser to Hooda, said. “Being the CM of the state, his presence is mandatory and I do not think Selja has any objection to it.”
Dr Ajay Choudhary, officer on special duty to Selja talked on similar lines: “There are no problems between the two leaders. The delay in handing over the flats must be due to some official delay.”
Later, Choudhary said he checked with HUDA officials and they said “lack of response from beneficiaries” was the reason for the delay. HUDA officials confirmed this.
An official said June 6 had been fixed as the deadline to receive applications from the beneficiaries, and this would be the “final call”.
“We did not receive many applications for the flats, as some people were demanding plots and did not show much interest in the flats,” Estate Office Dr S S Saini said. “Finally, we have fixed a deadline and would soon start the process of handing over the flats.”
The beneficiaries, however, deny that they are not interested; they “are keen to move into the flats at the earliest”.
The 2,072 two-room flats with kitchen and toilet have been constructed as part of the Jawaharlal Nehru
National Urban Renewal Mission.
