Allow one-time changes, don’t make it a norm
Should the UT regularise need-based changes in CHB houses?
Individual preferences and needs are increasing by the day. The price of properties is touching the sky. Everyone needs to fulfil his/her needs in dwelling acquired with hard-earned money. The lifestyle has changed. People sleep inside houses and don’t require big courtyards or verandas for drying clothes. The Chandigarh Administration has rightly come out with the decision to allow changes as per the approved plans. It should go ahead with the decision and continue to regularise changes made by owners of CHB houses.
NPS Sohal, Chandigarh
Will increase Revenue of Administration
Small families living in compact houses with changes already made cater to maximum space utilisation. Every family needs a small room for their son/daughter. Regularisation of changes in CHB houses will increase Administration’s income. Property prices will also witness a boom in the UT.
Malvinder Singh Sidhu, Chandigarh
Don’t turn UT into an organised slum
Every ruling dispensation comes out with relaxations for illegal constructions before elections. In majority of cases, changes in residential units are greed based and not need based. Owners build illegal structures and rent them out. The UT Administration should regularise only minor alterations in CHB houses lest the City Beautiful will turn into an organised slum. Safety of habitants and retaining original design is paramount for the UT Administration.
KC Rana, Chandigarh
New schemes beyond common man’s reach
The CHB housing schemes launched in the past were too costly and beyond reach of the common man. Due to soaring property prices in the UT, residents are unable to buy new houses. With the passage of time, the number of members in each family has increased. So, the Administration should allow some need-based changes in houses allotted by the CHB in the City Beautiful keeping in mind the strength of their foundations.
Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali
Allow Additional room on rooftop
Houses constructed by the Chandigarh Housing Board long ago need changes as per requirement of owners concerned. Due to increase in members of families over the years, there is need for additional space required by converting balcony into room if structurally safe. Additional parapet walls can be allowed for improving circulation in the house. Construction of additional room on roof tops can be allowed. Further, provision of lift may be allowed in multi-storey flats.
Col TBS Bedi (Retd), Mohali
Exercise powers with sympathy
The Chandigarh Housing Board used to operate from a single-storey building. Now, its office is housed in multi-storey building. No need based additions or alterations in CHB houses are regularised in the UT. Whatever additions or alterations allowed are just cosmetic in nature and don’t serve any purpose. Children have become adults and have new families, which adjust in same small spaces. Instead of going blind, the Chandigarh Administration must exercise its powers with sympathy. Failure to do so will bring colossal loss to residents of CHB houses. Let the better senses prevail among top officials to save and not to destroy the city.
Suresh Verma, Chandigarh
Old-style houses
The CHB houses are constructed on the old pattern, which need some changes immediately. The changes in the rule providing relaxation to residents of Chandigarh is a good step as otherwise, people will always fear that strict action could be taken against them. With allowing necessary changes, expect positive results. However, it could have a negative side that people may start illegal constructions.
Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh
Allow relaxations
The CHB should allow some need-based changes as additional construction rear the courtyard, terrace or any internal changes such as additional door or coverage of corridors. After paying some essential charges and proper permission from Administration, occupants must make necessary changes in their houses. For the convenience of occupants, relaxation must be recommended by the CHB. They can only demolish illegal encroachment.
Anita Tandon, Kharar
Will come as a relief
If need-based changes are regularised, it will be a big relief for around 50,000 allottees Chandigarh Housing Board flats in the various sectors of the city. The authorities should allow changes that can be added to the design already approved by the board. The decision has been much awaited by the flats’ owners. Changes such as the construction of additional room on the terrace, construction of additional door, shifting of entrance door from side boundary wall to front boundary wall and fixing of grilles, which have been considered for being permitted, will really help the residents in getting some extra covered space within the same total area. This will be possible with some riders and also with limitation on the total covered area. With the changes being regularised, the owners of flats would not further violate any guidelines. If violations are reported still, multifold penalties may be imposed. If the authorities concerned have already agreed to allow need-based changes, then, it’s the duty of citizens to follow guidelines and limitations set by the CHB.
Sanjay Chopra, Mohali
Should not become a routine affair
Regularising the changes made by allottees after buying the properties should not be done routinely. They should be allowed only when there is a real need for modification and not only for ornamental purposes. Many buy CHB flats because they are cheaper than those built by private builders, then they proceed to make unauthorised modifications to enhance its appearance/facade and sell it off at a higher price. The CHB flats are built to a specific uniform plan and priced accordingly. So, modifications should be only allowed rarely and that also inside the premises only.
Bubby Soin, Chandigarh
Basic structure must be maintained
The City Beautiful has been planned and designed specifically by French architect Le Corbusier. The designer has planned all views of buildings, including commercial, housing and official. The changes proposed in the buildings to help residents must be as per the city’s basic structure plan. The unauthorised and unplanned structures and alterations to the houses may destroy the overall look of the city. The basic concept, structure and look must be maintained to retain the beauty of the city.
Wg Cdr Jasbir Singh
Minhas (retd), Mohali
It’s Too late to demolish changes
The Administration had mostly turned a blind eye to the matter. It should have put an end to the unlawful construction in the very beginning. Action regarding dismantling at a large scale at this juncture can pose danger to basic structures. Therefore, a panel should be set up to chalk out a plan of action for regularising genuine changes. The invisible alterations may be ignored but the encroachment must not be spared.
Surinder Paul Wadhwa, Mohali
A long-pending demand of residents
Over the years, residents of CHB flats have made need-based changes, but Administration did not regularise the same, rather issued notices for the violations. In view of the present scenario, the Administration should regularise the need-based changes without changing outer structure. The UT Administration and the allottees should work together to settle the problem.
Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula
UT should Do what residents want
14. As demanded by residents, the UT Administration should regularise changes carried out in houses allotted by the Chandigarh Housing Board. Regularising the need-based changes is the need of the hour. This step may be a relief for residents.
Adish Sood, Amloh
UT practices must Change with time
With the changing times and fashion, the Chandigarh Administration should regularise the changes carried out in houses allotted by the Housing Board. The requirements of residents are increasing with time and they want to enjoy a lavish lifestyle. So, they are giving a modern look to their houses. They are renovating their houses for fresh air and lighting. They do not also want to reside in closed box-type houses. The Administration should work for the betterment of the citizens. The Housing Board should not have any objection if the residents give better shape to houses as per the needs of their families. A sub-committee of the Housing Board and residents should be framed to resolve regularisation matters. The houses were constructed by the Housing Board for the welfare of the residents. So, the Administration should understand the problems of residents and regularise the changes.
Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali
Don’t allow variation
Earlier, the Chandigarh Administration was wary of any changes in the Housing Board houses, but now, the Administration is thinking of regularising changes asked by the allottees. Once the changes are allowed, the Corbusier’s heritage beauty will be brushed away. Tourists will not visit the city because its beauty will be spoiled by changes in the houses. Though the allottees will get benefit by making changes such as extra rooms. How the Chief Architect will think of losing the symmetry of houses? The UT Administration should think before regularising the changes.
MR Bhateja, Nayagaon
Genuine demand
The demand of the residents to regularise the charges carried out in the houses allotted by the Chandigarh Housing Board is rational and genuine. The regularisation will facilitate a smooth transition to the new requirement of the CHB norms. Over the years, around 50,000 CHB flats have made need-based changes. Nevertheless, the Administration had not regularised these properties and had issued notices to most of the allottees. The UT Administration will also benefit from this as it can avoid long-drawn litigations. The charges calculated by the UT Administration or the CHB may not be accurate or genuine in the minds of the residents. So a one-time regularisation will do away with all hassles for all.
Dr Anil Kumar Yadav, Chandigarh
CHANGES WILL MAR UNIFORMITY
Other than the need-based changes that are already listed down by law, the UT Administration should not regularise the changes that are being carried out illegally in the houses allotted by the Chandigarh Housing Board, because it will change the uniformity and beautiful symmetry of the structures involved. Instead of regularising them, the unlawful and unnecessary violations should be punished by levying a fine, and the illegal structural extensions should be demolished.
SIMRAN SIDHU, CHANDIGARH
Decision a tightrope
Those residing in CHB houses have created a comfortable space for living my making certain changes to the overall structure. Everyone should have a right to live as one pleases without much interferance from the authorities. It is not right to penalise those who have altered their houses to suit their lifetsyle requirements. However, those trying to encroch upon the area or violate all building bylwas must be taken to task at all costs. The decision will be nothing short of a tightrope for the UT Administration as it has to create a balance between the need of its residents and checking illegal activities such as sub-letting by CHB allottees.
Kriti Chawla, Panchkula
QUESTION
Should the UT consider allowing leasehold-to-freehold conversion of industrial properties, which is a long-pending demand of the business community?
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