HIMUDA Plans Struggling To See Daylight

Y.S. Rana

The writer is a Hamirpur based Himachali settled in Chandigarh

To deliver dynamic and successful cities that better meet needs for housing, employment and amenities, every state has been armed with urban development authorities. But in this age of the deal in which an urban development authority pledges to run the nation’s affairs more like it has run its business. It is good time to think about it. The authority collects lakhs of rupee and it can do this thing largely outside of public scrutiny and suspicion often prevails there. As a result a number of cases have been filed against urban development authorities for adopting unfair trade practices.

HIMUDA is no exception. Projects initiated by it are being delayed by several years mainly due to lack in ‘proper home work.’ Lackluster attitude of the authority to deal with such cases has compounded the problem. HIMUDA had launched two projects—Ashiana-I and Ashiana-II—in Shimla in 2007 and 2008 with cost of Rs 999.07 lakh and Rs 1401.48 lakh respectively. However ambitious projects are struggling to see the light of the day.

The HIMUDA has planned a modern, integrated township near Shimla with the assistance of a Singapore-based company. A housing scheme was launched by it amid much fanfare in 2010-11. It has been more than six years on, 65,000 applications for HIMUDA scheme in Shimla have been struggling because of poor planning, lack of ground work with fate of uncertain future. HIMUDA had invited applications along with an initial fee of Rs 5,000 for providing plots and flats, as a demand survey. In all, 72,848 people had applied. However, until now, flats and houses have been provided to only 1,603 people, while the Rs 5,000 has been refunded to 7,000 people. The remaining applications are yet to be realized. It was also stated that those who were interested to get back booking amount can apply for the same. Notably, the authority would not pay any interest on the deposit.

An official of HIMUDA while talking to Himachal This Week told that some houses were constructed and handed over to the municipal corporation, Dhalli for further allotment to eligible applicants. But he could not divulge the exact number of houses constructed. The office of the commissioner, municipal corporation could not be contacted on telephone. However messages were left but efforts turned futile. The reporter however was advised to contact project director, planning for information that told on mobile he said that he was not competent to speak to media.

Sources in the HIMUDA revealed that delay in refunds was because applicants had not applied. And booking amount was refund to the people who had applied for it. The remaining 65,000 applicants under the demand survey could apply for the 350 plots and flats at Trilokpur and Moginand advertised by HIMUDA. HIMUDA has around 181 plots and more than 100 flats were proposed there. Sources also stated that 25% plots and flats of HIMUDA were reserved for those who had applied under the demand survey, 25% were reserved for other categories and the remaining 50% for open category. He said people were under the impression that HIMUDA would write to them for the refunds or for availability of flats. “But it is they who have to write to us for the refunds. For the plots and flats, they should look at our advertisement,” he said.

For the proposed 380-bigha township near Shimla, the HIMUDA had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Singapore Co-operation Enterprises last year. The township has been planned at Jathia Devi. HIMUDA has already acquired 243 bighas for the township for which registration process is on while state government has been approached to provide around 138 bighas of land more, sources said.

First Integrated Township In Shimla

HIMUDA has also decided to drop the proposal for setting up housing colonies at 19 places in the state, including Anni in Kullu where there is no demand for houses. On the other hand, it has plans to set up integrated township with know-how from Singapore. An MoU has been signed and first integrated town will be come up at Jathiaa Devi near Jubbarhati airport. Later on such townships will be constructed in Shimla, Solan, Mandi, Hamirpur. Kullu and Dharamshala.

Cities Selected For Prime Minister Awas Yojna

The Central government claims to provide a roof to homeless by 2022 has selected 13 cities in the state for purpose of Prime Minister Awas Yojna (PMAY). These cities are Una, Solan, Shimla, Parwanoo, Nalagarh, Nahan, Mandi, Kullu, Hamirpur, Dharamsala, Bilaspur and Baddi.

Himachal-o-Meter

The state’s ups and downs this week

Separate Operation Theatre For Cesarean Delivery

Kangra: Providing relief to pregnant women and their families, Dr. Rajender Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda has created a facility of operation theatre exclusively for cesarean delivery. The hospital administration has completed all formalities related to opening of operation theatre and it will be functionalised soon. Notably, earlier the operations of cesarean delivery were done in common operation theatre that sometimes created problems for pregnant women. The pregnant woman sometimes had to wait outside the operation theatre till it is vacated by the operation already going on there. This sometimes also increased the probability of complications in the delivery case. And in few occasions it also reached to the level of scuffle between doctors and concerned family. According to information, delivery of about 40 to 50 women happens on daily basis in Tanda hospital. And out of it about dozen of them are cesarean cases. In such a situation separate operation theatre for cesarean delivery could provide relief to pregnant women.

67,325 Litres Of Liquor Seized In Himachal

Shimla: Its election time in Himachal and candidates trying their luck in vidhan sabha elections are trying every trick in the book to register a victory. The favourite weapons being alcohol and money. But the Excise and Taxation department is also alert. Due to pro-active approach of the department, 67,325 litres of all kind of liquor of had been seized since September 28 in Himachal by the department. The Excise and Taxation Departments officials deployed in all police check posts are maintaining constant vigil. In the biggest-ever catch in the poll-bound state of Himachal, the Excise and Taxation Department seized 23,190 bulk litres of liquor. The maximum quantity of 19,584 litres was seized from Nurpur followed by 2,277 litres in Una, 345 litres in Shimla, 118 litres in Kangra by flying squad of the Central Zone, Una. As many as 52 special task forces have been constituted to ensure surveillance, monitoring and checking of liquor manufacturing units, warehouses and liquor vends. Strict vigil is being maintained on liquor manufacturing units and transport vehicles carrying food and construction material to prevent illicit manufacturing and illegal smuggling of liquor. Besides hotels, bars, guest houses, home stay and clubs are also under close watch.

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