The Indian Express 06.09.2012
Make proposed Manimajra residential complex multistorey, UT tells MC
The paucity of land in the city has affected the proposal of the Municipal Corporation to set up a residential complex in Manimajra. The UT Architecture Department has asked the civic body to plan out a multistorey housing society instead of selling plots as was being proposed. The proposal is likely to be revised now.
The civic body had earmarked six acres of land in pocket number 6 behind the market in the NAC (Notified Area Committee) for the purpose. It was proposed that the land that was at present covered with wild growth will be cleared and plots earmarked that could be auctioned.
The Architecture Department has, however, pointed out that there is a lack of space for residential complexes in Chandigarh. The space available should be utilized adequately by building multistorey houses.
Chandigarh is a landlocked city. Planned for a population of around 5 lakh people, it is housing more than double this number. There is a paucity of vacant land for housing projects. It has repeatedly been stressed that the space that is available should be utilized adequately.
Provisions for utilizing the land are being made in the Master Plan. It had also been proposed that redensification of the first phase sectors from Sector 1 to 30 be done so that residential facilities could be made available for more people.
An official of the Municipal Corporation said that the proposal is likely to be prepared in the coming days. “The proposal for setting up a housing complex was sent to the Architecture Department. They have stated that space in the city is short so a multistorey housing complex be built. The details will now be worked out,” he said.
The housing project would add money to the Municipal Corporation’s kitty. It is for the first time that such a complex was proposed by the civic body. Most of the proposals of the civic body for Manimajra are yet to witness completion. A proposed marriage palace has been rejected. The development plan for pocket number 8 is also awaiting execution.
