Work at 22 housing projects in Ghaziabad halted

GHAZIABAD: The GDA has identified 22 builders who have failed to provide flats to people from economically weaker section (EWS) and low income group (LIG) as mandated by the government and issued orders to halt construction work at their ongoing projects.

"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," said Vijay Kumar Yadav, vice-chairman, GDA.

"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," Yadav said.

Istiaq Ahmed, GDA chief town planner, said the builders had in 2013 submitted a list of 4,000 flats to be constructed under EWS and LIG categories but a recent survey had revealed only 1,200 units had been built. "Even those flats have not been given allotment letters," Ahmed said.

"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," Ahmed said.

However, Manoj Gaur, president, Credai, NCR, said logistics do not permit separating the income categories while building houses of all categories. "When GDA clears a housing project, it gives at least five years for project completion. Once the project is complete, we 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," Gaur said.

The builders have also been given an option under which it is required to pay 'shelter fees' to the GDA after which it becomes the responsibility of the civic agency to find land and develop it to provide dwelling units to people from EWS and LIG background. "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," continued Gaur.

According to a 2012 Government Order (GO), all government, private and cooperative housing schemes above 3,000sqm area are required to reserve 20% of the total flats, 10% for people falling under EWS category and another 10% for LIG. The amount have been fixed irrespective of market rates ranging from 3 lakhs to 8 lakhs.