Allottees resent lack of facilities

CHANDIGARH, Jan 18: The Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority promised retired government employees "partially finished" duplex houses in Sector 48-C, SAS Nagar. What the allottees hadn’t bargained for was just how "partially finished" their new homes and neighbourhood would actually be.

The road in front of houses numbered 1 to 11 is approached by a muddy, cratered path. The houses face a slum whose residents find unoccupied PUDA flats ideal "toilets". When the allottees come to take possession of their flats the situation is unpleasant indeed. "The mere thought is revolting," said Prem Singh, the owner of house number 11.

"We have made several requests to the PUDA authorities but nothing has happened so far," Singh said. In its notification, PUDA had declared that the houses allotted would be partially finished. In return the allottees get a structure of unplastered brick walls without any doors or outer boundary walls. Poles have been put up for street lights but no bulbs or tubes have been installed and a section of the complex has no sewerage lines. The allotees — all retired government employees — claim that the water supply started only after numerous reminders were sent to the PUDA officials.