PMC preparing blueprint to allocate plots to slum dwellers

PANCHKULA: The Panchkula Municipal Corporation (PMC) has come up with a blueprint for the allotment of plots to slum dwellers residing in Rajiv Colony, Gandhi Colony, Indira Colony and Kharag Mangoli and has sent the same to the Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Local Bodies Department for approval.  

For a long time, residents of the Rajiv Colony, Gandhi Colony, Indira Colony and Kharag Mangoli did not have access to basic civic amenities. Once the plan receives approval, the slum residents will be handed over built-up houses on 40 yard plots in three villages. The application will be invited to select the beneficiary of the scheme based on a survey conducted by the Haryana Shahri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP).

The scheme will benefit the HSVP department, as the land worth crores will be free from the illegal occupation of these slum dwellers. The land freed could be used for other projects. 

Mayor of Panchkula Kulbhushan Goyal highlighted that the plan was to give built-up houses to slum dwellers under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. He added, “We want to give plots in their names.”

Right now, around 45 acres of HSVP land is under illegal occupation of residents of Rajiv Colony and Indira Colony, and once these slums are removed, 22 acres of land would be made part of the industrial area. A plan to construct a shopping complex, a mall and an interstate bus terminal on 75 acres of land at Kharag Mangoli has also been proposed.

In 1994, then Chief Minister Bhajan Lal introduced a rehabilitation plan for the resident of the Rajiv-Indira Colony. As per the CM’s plan, selected beneficiaries were to receive a one-marla plot at a fixed cost of ₹10,000. Later HSVP formed a committee in 1994 and conducted a survey, after which 4,149 beneficiary families were identified and 2,802 of them deposited the money and HSVP issued allotment letters to 306 of them.