Ghaziabad Development Authority has identified 22 builders who have failed to provide housing units for Economical Weaker Section and Lower Income Group of the society. These builders were mandated by the government to construct EWS and LIG housing units in their projects in which they have failed. Against this matter the government has issued orders to halt construction work at ongoing projects of these developers.
On the matter, the vice chairman of GDA, Mr. Vijay Kumar Yadav said that for some time now we have been receiving complaints against builders who are flouting norms laid down by the government for allocation of flats for people falling under EWS and LIG category, and we have identified 22 of them. So, I have issued orders to halt the ongoing construction work of these builders and we will not issue completion certificates to them. I have also instructed the GDA’s enforcement cell to conduct a meeting every week to monitor the steps taken by these builders.
According to the source, in 2013, these builders had submitted a list of 4,000 flats to be construct for EWS and LIG segment but a recent survey had revealed that only 1,200 units had been built.
On this Istiaq Ahmed, GDA chief town planner said that even those flats have not been given allotment letters. The builders tend to delay the projects under this scheme as it’s not profitable for them. That’s why we have decided to tighten the screws on them.
According to the statement of Manoj Gaur, the president of CREDAI, NCR, logistics do not permit separating the income categories while building houses of all categories. When the authority clears a housing project, it gives at least 5 years for its completions. Once the project is complete, the authority allot flats under the government scheme along with the rest of the flats but GDA’s insistence that LIG and EWS flats be allotted first is something we oppose.
An option have also been given to the builder in which the builders will have to pay of ‘shelter fees’ to the authority after which it becomes the responsibility of the civic agency to find land and develop it to provide dwelling units to EWS and LIG segments.
Gaur stated that the second point is that the GDA is keeping mum on how many LIG and EWS flats they have made and allotted from the shelter fees deposited by builders.
According to the government order which was issued in 2012, all government, private and cooperative housing schemes above 3,000sqm area are required to reserve 20% of the total flats. Of these 20%, 10% will be reserve for EWS category and another 10% for LIG. The amount have been fixed irrespective of market rates ranging from 3 lakhs to 8 lakhs.
Source: www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com