The Indian Express                13.06.2013

PCMC breather for 5,000 EWS flat beneficiaries

The City Improvements Committee resolution on Tuesday to wind up the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) housing project for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) after constructing 7,000-plus flats was the death knell for dreams of around 5,000 beneficiaries of owning a flat.

They can now breathe easy, with the PCMC saying the project has not been scrapped.

Municipal Commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi has clarified that though the committee has passed the resolution, it will all depend on availability of land and funds.

"The fate of the project for economically weaker sections (EWS) will depend on availability of land. Our JNNURM project is getting over by March 2014. Since the project was taken up under JNNURM, PCMC will have to look for collaboration and land for going ahead with the project after March 2014," Pardeshi said.

"Yes we are not scrapping the project...but it will all depend on what PCMC does after JNNURM project is over," he said.

The Municipal Commissioner's word has come as relief for people waiting since 2007 for their dream flat initially promised at Rs 1.5 lakh but whose cost had soared to Rs 3.75 lakh each.

"This morning, I thought our dreams are shattered, but now that you have told me about PCMC not scrapping the project, it is a great relief," said S Rangdal, a resident of Bhosari. Had the project been scrapped, 5,396 people would not have got their flats.

Initially, PCMC had planned 13,250 flats under EWS. Anybody who is a resident of Pimpri-Chinchwad, earns Rs 5,000 or less and does not own a flat was eligible for a 400-sq-ft flat at Rs 1.5 lakh. For the next three years, PCMC could not secure the required land. So the civic body decided

to hike rates of each flat to Rs 3.75 lakh citing construction cost escalation.

People protested and PCMC conveyed its helplessness.

The project took off in Sector 17 and 19 of Pradhikaran area where PCMC is constructing 6,720 flats. Another 1,134 flats are being constructed in Dudalgaon and Moshi areas after land becomes available.

"So in all we are going to construct 7,854 flats under JNNURM. The fate of the rest would be decided by PCMC after land and finances becomes available," said the civic chief.

Officials, however, said that after March 2014, if PCMC decides to construct the flats, cost will further go up. "We don't think PCMC would be able to afford flats at the present rate. Now that octroi is gone, PCMC will struggle to take up big projects," an official said.

Activist Shridhar Chalkha said PCMC had taken up the project as a populist measure to woo voters during elections. "Later it found it difficult to keep its promise. Clearly, PCMC is playing games with people. I am sure it will not announce scrapping of the project until the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections are over. This kind of projects are a means to influence voters," he said.