The Akali government cannot be blamed for not having done enough to attract private housing investment in the state. Notwithstanding protests from residents of SAS Nagar, the district administration is planning on establishing the district administrative-cum-judicial complex in Sanetta village, almost 20 km from Mohali.
The village is, however, only a stone's throw from a mega-integrated housing project being developed by a private promoter.
It is learnt that the private builder has even offered to construct the complex free of cost if it is shifted "close" to his housing project.
The proposed site is not centrally located. It is on the southeastern corner of the local planning area of the district. The local planning area is the area identified by the department of town and country planning to show the area where development is likely to take place in the next 10 years.
Sanetta is not a part of the sectoral grid of Mohali, and is on the Landran-Banur road which is one of the major roads planned for the area. However, on either side of the road there are only proposed private housing projects, many of which have not even started construction.
Real estate market analysts say most of these projects are facing difficulties in selling plots, villas and apartments.
The proposed shifting of the administrative complex can, however, help these promoters.
One of pleas taken by the administration for the identification of the site is that the government does not have any land in the district to establish the complex and only this piece of land is available.
This is a mere excuse, if not a complete lie. The entire area in Sector 62 is with the government and has been planned as the city centre. Almost 8 acres in Sector 62 have been identified and set aside for a DAC but the administration seems to have given up its right over the land.
The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), which had allotted the site for the complex, could not be happier as the land would fetch a whopping price in the open market.
Other than the Sector 62 city centre, the master plan of Mohali also provides for the entire Sector 87 as the city centre.
The move to shift the site has met with widespread protest. Most resident welfare associations have objected to the move.
Those living in villages along the Mullanpur- Kurali belt would have to travel via Kurali to reach the complex. Those from the Lalru-Dera Bassi-Zirakpur area would have to come via Banur.
The three MLAs of the district had said the decision to set up the complex at Sanetta would be reviewed.
However, the deputy commissioner yesterday said that the site had been finalised and even the building plans were ready.
"Why is this happening only the Mohali DC can answer. No effort has been made by the district administration to look for an alternative site for obvious reasons," Kharar MLA Balbir Sidhu said.
--
Your Gateway to Chandigarh, Mohali & Panchkula? Check now at www.ChandigarhPulse.com
Subscribe to ChandigarhPulse Newsletter at http://groups.google.com/group/ChandigarhPulse
No comments:
Post a Comment