The Times of India  15.12.2010

CHANDIGARH: There is finally some hope for revival of the slum rehabilitation programme being implemented by Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) as Centre has sanctioned Rs 99 crore as last instalment for the scheme.

The decision was taken at a meeting of CHB officials with members of Central Sanctioning and Monetary Committee in New Delhi on Tuesday.

However, UT administration would have to contribute an equal grant before work on the project starts again. Since this will be possible only in the new financial year when a budgetary provision is made, work on rehabilitation will have to wait till March.

Over 25,000 flats were to be constructed for rehabilitating dwellers of 14 notified slums in the city. The project, which is almost half way through, is yet to undertake construction of nearly 12,000 more flats.

The project had run into trouble after Prideasia Habitat project in IT Park failed as its profits were to be pumped into the venture. The board had also accused the UT finance department of aggravating the situation by not depositing receipts from Prideasia with the Consolidated Fund of India.

The Centre had committed to allocate a total of Rs 396 crore to CHB for completing Phase I of the rehabilitation project. Of the total amount, the board had received Rs 233 crore, which were utilized for construction of flats under the project.

Tenders for construction of 3,648 flats in Maloya II under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) were cancelled by CHB for want of funds. Accusing the finance department of making it bankrupt, CHB took the decision in its board meeting held on September 27. With the cancellation of tenders, the slum rehabilitation project suffered a huge setback.

"The central government had recently awarded CHB the slum rehabilitation project, which was a local initiative. Therefore, we had little doubt that more money will be sanctioned for the project," said CHB chairman Mohanjeet Singh.

In 2009-10, the board completed construction of 1,664 dwelling units - 668 EWS in Sector 38(W) and Sector 49, 512 small flats for rehabilitation of slum dwellers in Sector 38 (w), 256 LIG and 208 MIG in Sector 49. Possession of these dwelling units was also handed over to applicants who fulfilled the necessary criteria for inclusion in the scheme.