E-Paper
10 yrs on, Housefed’s refusal of flats to 52 successful applicants
After dragging its feet on the matter for ten years, the Punjab State Federation of Cooperative House Building Societies (Housefed) has finally decided not to allot flats to 52 successful category 3 applicants on the ground that GMADA had not handed over possession of land.
After dragging its feet on the matter for ten years, the Punjab State Federation of Cooperative House Building Societies (Housefed) has finally decided not to allot flats to 52 successful category 3 applicants on the ground that GMADA had not handed over possession of land.
Housefed, which has so far built only 578 of the total 632 flats planned in Sector 79, had even issued letters of intent to these applicants. It will now hold a floor wise draw of lots for various flat categories on June 3, 4 and 5.
Peeved at the housing agency’s decision, some of the applicants said they had been able to construct only 88 of the total 140 flats as the case has been pending in the Supreme Court and the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority had not handed over possession of the land.
Surprisingly, the letter issued by Markfed said applicants would be kept in the waiting list and be bound to pay the cost of the flat as fixed by the housing agency at the time of possession.
In case the applicant did not want to remain on the waiting list he could opt for a refund of the deposit along with 10 per cent interest.
Former MC councillor NK Marwaha said the irony in the matter was that even though the applicants were issued letters of intent nine years ago Housefed was now refusing to honour them.
“It appears the authorities didn’t seriously take up the issue of handing over possession of land with GMADA and preferred to just wait for the latter’s decision”, he added.
However, when contacted, Housefed managing director HS Sidhu said: “We’re helpless as the case is pending in the Supreme Court and GMADA hasn’t given us possession of land. As such we couldn’t construct the flats.”
