Bitter dream for ‘Home, Sweet Home’ buyers

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since last few years, Government’s most ambitious and much-hyped project Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) is in the light only for wrong reasons in other states of the country. People’s pain and allegations ranges from allotment to ineligible, financial irregularities and poor quality of construction etc. In Madhya Pradesh too, uncalled and limitless delay is leaving debilitating effect on their monthly budget and dreams. People who have invested in ‘Housing for All’ slogneering scheme are feeling cheated and highly disappointed with the slow pace of work on the site. Aggravating their pain, the executing agency Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken full amount of the flat’s cost from people despite the structure at some of the projects are yet to take shape. Moreover, responsible officials are not willing to answer their query. ‘The Hitavada’ reporter, visited several sites of the project and found that ground reality is far away from Government’s tall claims.

 

According to the information by the BMC, the Low Income Group (LIG) flats of 2 BHK were proposed at 12 no. bus stand, Samradha, Sant Hiradaram Nagar, Neelbad, Kokta Transport Nagar and other places. Less than a half projects have been completed so far. Also, these projects were launched in 2017-18 and in 2019 which were to be completed by the year 2022 as per the deadline. But among them, only five projects have been completed in Kokta with a capacity of 432 flats out of which 218 have been allotted. In Bhanpur, out of the 432 complete projects, possession of 161 flats have been given to the families and the projects of Rahul Nagar Phase 1 and Malikhedi have been also completed. Several projects, including that of Kotra and Malikhedi, which were supposed to be completed on December 29, 2019, have not been finished after four and a half years. Notably, the Kotra project contains 576 flats reserved for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), 144 for LIG and 216 flats reserved for people coming from Middle Income Groups. Whereas, the Malikhedi project has 168, 323 and 50 reserved for EWS, LIG and MIGs. Out of these, the 50 projects of the plan reserved for Middle Income Groups have been completed and given for possession.

 

Initially shrugged responsibility and denied to respond to ‘The Hitavada’ query, and later said “Some of the projects were delayed due to the outbreak of pandemic in the country and were an extension,” an official told on the condition of anonymity. Now the question arises, if the project is not completed then how come a government/semi-government agency can taken full cost of the flat from the beneficiaries. When talking about the status of Middle Income Group (MIG) flats, several irregularities have been also found there. ‘The Hitavada’ came to know that the contractor of Bag Mugaliya project has fled and when we tried to confirm the news, it was told that the contractor has been given a notice to speed-up the work. Notices are a daily business of the administration. The official anonymously also mentioned that the contractors of Ganga Nagar and 12 no. Bus Stand have also fled from the location and the administration is trying to work for damage control and looking for alternatives. A notice board was displayed at the entrance of the project at Stop no. 12 project terming ‘the contractor has fled....’ Since the project is meant for low income group and people who comes in bracket of Rs 3 to 6 lakhs annual income. Most of the people opted for bank loan. There is third party arrangement.

 

Following the “first come, first serve” condition, several have made full payment via bank. Now, they are facing a double whammy: paid full amount and getting nothing more than bank loan instalment and rent to the house their are presenting residing. Since the project is meant for those who don’t have their own home. Ironically, according to the Government’s statement over the scheme, “the mission addresses urban housing shortage among the EWS/LIG and MIG categories including the slum dwellers by ensuring a pucca house to all eligible urban households by the year 2022, when nation completes 75 years of its Independence.” But in reality, the situation is quite different. The loopholes and inefficiency of this scheme have also victimised the several in State capital Bhopal where several projects of the PMAY have missed deadline many times. Moreover, it is proving a double whammy for those who have booked their houses under the scheme. Launched on June 25, 2015, PMAY is one of the ambitious schemes of the Government and from past weeks and the scheme has been in news due to alleged irregularities. On one hand, where the scheme is being projected as one of the flagship programmes of the Government but on the other, seeing the present situations, the dream of owning house seems impossible to the common citizens.