Relief for Rs 4.5 lakh allottees as Chandigarh approves need-based changes

CHANDIGARH: In a major relief to more than 4.5 lakh residents of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) allotted houses, the UT administration has accorded nod to most of the need-based relaxations recommended by a board committee.

The administration has allowed for free download of the standard drawings and no prior written consent requirement from all allottees in the block for making internal changes in a house, provision of additional door, constructing a lift and façade painting.

Front courtyard brick boundary wall can be replaced with flexible/sliding gates, solar panels can be installed on terrace subject, total capacity of water tank increased up to 1000 litres, and CHB independent houses can be considered at par with marla houses. A total of 1.6 ft wide foldable temporary shades over windows have also been allowed.

Changes have to be made in a dwelling unit with the advent of time to keep pace with changing requirements and trends. When the process of approvals is simplified or made more flexible, it benefits all the stakeholders as well as minimizes potential for conflict. It also leads to cutting down of red tape and time needed to plan changes in the existing structureTimes view

The committee, headed by CHB secretary, was constituted in September last year and submitted its report in July. In addition to technical experts, the committee also had three non-official board members.
While it had junked the major demand of one-time settlement policy on ‘Delhi pattern’, it had allowed for a number of relaxations related to building violations.

After the CHB board of directors approval, the recommendations were sent to the UT estate department and the urban planning department. The urban planning department has accorded its approval or disapproval based on recommendations in question.