16 yrs on, 52 people await possession

MOHALI: They invested in category-3 houses in Sector 79 being built bythepunjabstate Federation of Cooperative Housebuilding Societies Ltd or Housefed in 2004, after paying full costs of the units, but 16 years later 52 homebuyers are still waiting for possession, forced to live in rented houses.

Housefed, which had floated the scheme to build 632 apartments in five categories, promised to hand over possession in 2006. Even though all allottees paid for 140 category-3 apartments in Mohali’s Sector 79, a draw of only 88 apartments was conducted in 2014.

The remaining 52 allottees weretoldthatashousefeddidnot have enough land to build the units it would hand over possession later. They were also told they could opt for refunds with 10% interest or pay additional costs in case of a price rise.

All allottees agreed to pay the increased costs. So, the price of ₹9 lakh in 2004 for a unit went up to ₹19 lakh to ₹21.25 lakh in 2014 when the draw of 88 apartments was conducted.

POSSESSION OF LAND IN 2018

Surprisingly, though Housefed gotpossessionofland– whichhad been under litigation – to build the units in March2018, it did not start construction work.

“Wehavebeenforcedinstayin rented accommodation for the last one decade. Despite getting possession of the land, Housefed hasdonenothing,” said Ravinder Dogra, one of the allottees.

The costs of the apartment havenowincreasedfrom₹20lakh to ₹35 lakh andthe allottees have beenaskedtopayup.“whyhave the costs gone up? Was it our fault?” questionsnareshtrehan, president, Housefed Sangarsh Committee.

Amarjitsingh, Housefedmanagingdirector, saidanagreement had already been signed with Punjab Markfed to build the apartments.“wehopetostartthe construction soon,” he said.