HUDA seeks enhancement charges, Panchkula flat owners to move court

5,000 families directed to shell out Rs 2-Rs 2.5 lakh after a local court asked HUDA to pay Rs 92 lakh to land owners

More than a month after as many as 100 housing societies were asked to pay Rs 91.51 lakh as enhancement charges, residents remain divided on the issue. While some of them have given the first instalment “under protest”and are also contemplating moving court, others do not wish to pay anything.

HUDA had asked around 5,000 families staying in these societies to shell out between Rs 2 to 2.5 lakh as enhancement money against the increased compensation money of Rs 91.51 lakh awarded by the local court to land owners. While a society that is spread across an area of about half an acre has to pay Rs 45 lakh, the money increases according to the size of the plot.

This is not the first time that the residents have been asked to shell out money. In 2002, the residents had paid Rs 80,000 as enhancement charges to HUDA.

Some of the residents who have paid the first of the seven instalments of Rs 36,300, say that they have done so “under protest.” They also clarified that with the new notice, it is an individual’s decision and not the decision of the housing society he is living in, to pay the enhancement.

According to HUDA and residents’ welfare associations, around 1,000 families have already deposited the first instalment.

“We have deposited the first instalment but do not wish to give more money. Now, we can move the court as we have not defied the orders of the court at the first instance,” said Vikas Kumar, resident of GH-20. Another resident, Ashwani Choudhary, said, “I have not paid the instalment but I would move the court. HUDA never accounted for the Rs 80,000 paid previously and we would take up this as well.”

Some of the residents who have paid the first of the seven instalments of Rs 36,300, say that they have done so “under protest.” They also clarified that with the new notice, it is an individual’s decision and not the decision of the housing society he is living in, to pay the enhancement.

Meanwhile, residents’ welfare associations too say that the view on whether to pay or not varies from resident to resident but they are unanimous in their decision of going to the court against the decision. “The buck has to stop somewhere. We cannot let HUDA burden us with such a huge amount everytime land owners move court. Most of the residents in these societies are retired officials who are living on their pension. How would they pay the enhancement,” said SK Bansal, president, RWA, GH-78. HUDA officials, meanwhile, said they were carrying on with the orders of court. “We told the residents that the instructions were issued by the court. The money won’t go in our account. In case they plan to move court, it is a free country,” said Ashwani Sharma, estate officer, HUDA.