Board cancels allotment of 20 small flats over licence fee dues

Continuing its action against defaulters, the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) has cancelled the allotment of more 20 small flats over non-payment of licence fee. Earlier, the allotment of 20 such flats located in Sectors 49 and 56 was cancelled.

Officials said soon, action would be taken against the allottees of the remaining small flats scheme who had not paid licence fee dues.

The CHB has now cancelled the allotment of six small flats in Sector 49, three in the Industrial Area, seven in Ram Darbar and four such flats in Sector 38 (West) over dues to the tune of more than Rs 42 lakh.

The allottees have been told to hand over the possession of their respective flats in 30 days failing which the board would start the process of vacating the houses. The allotment was cancelled as neither the allottees cleared the fee dues nor did they respond to repeated show-cause notices.

The flats were allotted under the Small Flats Scheme, for which the necessary licence fee has to be paid every month.

Recently, the audit report had highlighted that the CHB had failed to recover licence fee/rent of Rs 44.26 crore from 13,464 defaulters.

In August 2013, the Administration decided that small flats would be allotted for a period of 20 years at a licence fee of Rs 800 per month for the first five years. There will be a 20% increase for the subsequent five-year periods, bringing the fee to Rs 960, Rs 1,152 and Rs 1,382 for each successive term.