In a significant move addressing a prolonged public grievance, Haryana's Urban Local Bodies Minister, Vipul Goel, has issued urgent directives to resolve a long-standing housing issue affecting underprivileged families in Panchkula. The minister's intervention came after a delegation highlighted the inordinate delays in two key housing schemes.
Minister's Directive After Public Representation
The action was triggered when a delegation from the Shivalik Vikas Manch, a local development body, met with Minister Vipul Goel on Wednesday. The group's president, Vijay Bansal, submitted a detailed memorandum outlining the critical delays. Acting promptly on the representation, Minister Goel directed the Municipal Commissioner of Panchkula to take immediate steps to find a resolution.
This direct order from a state minister underscores the severity of the issue, which has left numerous poor families waiting for promised homes for over a decade and a half.
Details of the Long-Pending Housing Delays
The memorandum brought two specific and egregious cases to the minister's attention. The first pertains to the Mahatma Gandhi Awas Yojana (MGAH), a scheme designed to provide housing for the economically weaker sections. Astonishingly, the allotment of 100-yard residential plots promised under this scheme has been pending for 16 years.
The second issue involves the Adarsh Pradarshan Awas Yojana in Pinjore. Under this scheme, 24 model houses were constructed to serve as exemplars for affordable housing. However, in a stark example of administrative failure, these houses have been lying vacant for 13 years. Not only are they not providing shelter to needy families, but they are also reportedly deteriorating due to neglect.
"Even after 16 years, the government has not allotted the plots promised under the Mahatma Gandhi Awas Yojana and 24 model houses completed 13 years ago are still lying vacant and deteriorating instead of being allotted to poor families," stated Vijay Bansal, President of Shivalik Vikas Manch.
Implications and Expected Outcomes
The minister's directive places immediate accountability on the Panchkula municipal administration. The core issues now requiring resolution are:
- The formal allotment process for the 100-yard plots under MGAH.
- The identification of eligible beneficiaries and the handover of the 24 completed model houses in Pinjore.
- Preventing further decay of the already-built infrastructure.
This development highlights a critical gap between policy implementation and ground-level execution in welfare schemes. The minister's intervention is seen as a necessary step to cut through bureaucratic red tape and deliver justice to families who have been waiting for a basic necessity—a home—for generations. The public and the Shivalik Vikas Manch will now be watching closely to see how swiftly and effectively the commissioner's office acts on these clear ministerial orders.
