The Pioneer 14.12.2010
Centre refuses Rs 300 crore aid to Chandigarh Housing BoardPNS | Chandigarh
Struggling to recover from financial crisis, the cash-strapped Chandigarh Housing Board has received another shocker with the Centre rejecting their demand of `300 crore for projects especially for slum rehabilitation.
The Board is finding difficult to continue the project of slum rehabilitation and with the demand of ` 300 crore being turned down, the CHB is again in the dilemma as to how to cope with financial crunch.
CHB's much-awaited general category scheme was floated on Monday with the release of the brochure, costing ` 1000 each. The draw of lots is likely to be held in a month's time and the construction work will be completed in about two years for giving possession to the allottee. Nearly 160 flats will be constructed by the board in Sector 51-A, which is likely to bolster the board's financial position.
The CHB officials will now meet the UT Finance Department next week to decide the future course of action. CHB needs nearly ` 550 to complete the on-going projects. A proposal to seek the grants will be again sent to the centre to complete the ongoing projects undertaken by the board, said an official.
Even though an arduous task for the CHB to complete the slum rehabilitation project, the UT Estate Office has mooted a proposal to include those slum dwellers that were not included during the bio-metric survey in 2006 to get a one-bedroom flat.
The CHB official said that only if adequate funds are provided to the Board, it would be possible for the Board to construct flats for more slum dwellers. Under the rehabilitation project, nearly 25800 houses were to be constructed. The flats having one multipurpose room with toilet and kitchen were to be given on license fee basis to the slum families.
