Deepak.Yadav@timesofindia.comChandigarh: The Chandigarh administration has proposed to provide ownership rights to occupants of over 35,000 dwelling units in the city’s rehabilitation colonies. UT has sent the draft policy to give ownership rights to residents to the ministry of home affairs (MHA) for consideration and approval.Currently, the proposal has been drafted only for original allottees of dwelling units in rehabilitation colonies. GPA (general power of attorney) holders who purchased houses from original allottees are not part of this policy. However, in view of the fact that around 80% of such houses in rehabilitation colonies have been sold on GPA in the past three to four decades, sources in the administration said they (GPA holders) will be covered in the second phase, once the proposal for original allottees is approved.The UT estate department has earmarked multiple areas under the proposal. These include columns of eligibility, applicable allottees, non-applicable allottees, eligibility criteria and finally, consideration. “Since the decision to give ownership rights to allottees of rehabilitation colonies is a crucial one, the authority wants to proceed in a phased manner. If the original allottees’ proposal works, GPA holders’ proposal will be considered. As the matter of GPA was also raised in the public darbar of Punjab governor/Chandigarh administrator, the department will certainly look into the possibilities,” a UT official told TOI.The UT has proposed to constitute a screening committee to examine applications. The administrator may relax all or any of the provisions of this scheme, if he is satisfied that such relaxation is in public interest.Rehabilitation colonies are located in Dadumajra, Indira Colony, Manimajra, Mauli Jagran, Dhanas, Bapu Dham, Sector 52, Sector 56, etc. Most of the units were allotted on 99-year lease or similar terms beginning in 1979.ApplicabilityThis scheme shall be applicable to all the original licensees/allottees or their legal heirs who were allotted dwelling units under the rehabilitation scheme and are or were under occupation of such dwelling units for their own residential purposes for more than seven years.Non-applicabilityThe policy will not be applicable in cases where the licence of the dwelling unit has been determined/cancelled. In case of dwelling units where building violations exist or cases pertaining to building violations are pending in court. Cases where licensees misuse dwelling units and where there are encroachments on public land will also not be applicable. Imp Boxes:Box A: Points of consideration for MHAI: An amount equivalent to 5% of the collector rate calculated on the basis of size of tenement/site/flat, shall be payable as consideration, to be deposited within one year from date of approval of ownership right II: In case of payment in instalments, the licensee shall have to pay monthly rental till full and final payment is made III: In case of failure to pay full consideration amount within one year from the date of approval of ownership, there shall be automatic cancellation of approval accorded for ownership right without any formal order in this regard IV: All outstanding govt dues shall be cleared before making an application under this scheme Box D: Eligibility criteriaI: Original allottees/co-allottees or their legal heirs are or were residing in the dwelling unit allotted to them for a total period of seven years or more II: All outstanding govt dues, including license fees and other charges, must have been paid by the licensees/allottees III: Non-payment of rent after expiry of hire-purchase period specified in the allotment letter will not make the applicant ineligible IV: The licensees shall have to vacate encroachments made on public land, if anyV: In case any construction is made beyond permissible limits, such building violation shall be removed by the present occupant/allottees at their own cost prior to application under this scheme.
