Jalandhar, December 31
Following the decision of the Election Commission of India (ECI) of allowing citizens to carry Rs 2.5 lakh cask instead of Rs 1 lakh without any hindrance during Assembly polls after requests by traders and businessmen, hundreds of applicants of PUDA plots at Mukerian have urged the ECI to reconsider its decision of not allowing PUDA to hold draw of plots.

Interestingly, the draw of 250 freehold residential plots at PUDA Enclave (Seed Farm Site) was scheduled to be held at its Jalandhar office near the District Administrative Complex (DAC) on December 28, but the same was postponed sine die.

Though PUDA had given advertisement in various newspapers regarding postponement of the draw on December 28 itself, most of the applicants came to know about the postponement of the draw when they reached at the site of the draw on that day.

Meanwhile, Inderjeet Kaur of Mukerian, who applied for 172 and 209 square meters plots, said: "The ECI should have allowed PUDA to hold draw as the process for the draw had been initiated much before the model code of conduct came into force."

The scheme of allotment of 250 residential plots at PUDA Enclave in Mukerian was opened on July 11 and closed on August 10.

Another applicant for 251 square meters, Kulwant Singh of Urban Estate Jalandhar said "He alongwith some other applicants will send a request letter to ECI to reconsider its decision of allowing PUDA to hold draw."

Inderjeet Kaur and Kulwant Singh said: "If the draw is not held at the earliest, they may be asked to pay extra interest for the earnest money by the concerned banks, so ECI should provide relief to hundreds of applicants."

Most of applicants deposited the earnest money after taking loan from different banks.

When contacted, PUDA estate officer Ganesh Sharma said: "Senior officials in Chandigarh have sent a request to ECI for allowing them to hold the draw and it was up to ECI to decide."

Interestingly, this was the second time that the draw of Mukerian plots was postponed.