CHB cancels tenders for flat construction

The much-hyped feather in Chandigarh Administration’s cap — the slum rehabilitation project — has hit a major roadblock,with Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) cancelling the tenders called for construction of 3,648 flats under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM) scheme. Citing paucity of funds and accusing the Finance department once again for making CHB ‘bankrupt’,the CHB took the decision in its Board meeting held on September 27. With the cancellation of tenders,CHB has also expressed its “regrets” and “inability” to complete the slum-rehabilitation project in Chandigarh. It may be recalled that Chandigarh was considered one of the best cities in the country for implementing this project.

“The matter pertaining to construction of 3,648 small flats at Maloya-II was placed before the Board in its 358th meeting on September 27 wherein attention of the Board was drawn to the recent recommendations of the Planning Commission. In its meeting held on July 29 at New Delhi,the Government of India had recommended an outlay of Rs 225 crore under the JNNURM,Rs. 180 crore for BSUP project and Rs 45 crore for the ongoing urban infrastructure projects of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation under the aegis of Chandigarh Administration. The Board,was,however,not convinced with this assurance of the Planning Commission,as till date neither any confirmation for release of said funds from Government of India has been received,nor the Chandigarh Administration has given its assurance for making available funds to the tune of Rs 671.41 crore to CHB for total implementation of the scheme as projected in its note dated July 16,2010,” a communique (copy with Newsline) exchanged between the senior officers in CHB reads.

It adds,“Accordingly,CHB has rejected the tender of lowest agency in respect of the work of 3,648 small flats at Maloya-II,which is going to attract large-scale implication/repercussion at the Administrative level. This will give a total blow to the vision of GOI approved under JNNURM and assigned to the Chandigarh Administration for implementation with a Central assistance of Rs 396.12 crore.”

“In the event GoI is aware of these developments taking place at the level of Board with regard to the implementation of Slum Rehabilitation Programme,the subsequent release of pending two installments of Rs 96.02 crore each,under the scheme is bound to be withheld. Under the prevalent circumstances,CHB regrets to place on record its inability to implement the remaining part of the slum rehabilitation project for construction of flats at Mauli Jagran I and Maloya-II in the absence of adequate resources,” the communique further says.

CHB Chairman Mohanjit Singh said: “How is CHB to be blamed for this decision? The tenders are cancelled,because we do not have any money to execute the project. If the Administration doesn’t come to our rescue,CHB is finished and so shall be all the projects associated with it.”