Proposal to redensify8217; sectors

According to a document prepared by the Administration which was circulated at the seminar, the City is facing an estimated shortfall of about 2,500 dwelling units, which would rise to about 28,465 in about three years.

Addressing the gathering, UT Chief Architect S.K. Midha said that one of the options before the Administration to partly resolve the problem of housing was the redensification of the Phase I and Phase II sectors.

The document highlighted that redensification would require studying the 8220;possibility of sub-division of larger plots without compromising with the quality of development existing therein.8221; One of the participants in the seminar sug-gested that for redensification, the Administration could consider the possibility of allowing greater vertical expansion.

The document added that the proposal would entail a close examination of existing development, the level of infrastructure and the available scope of expansion. It would also require assessing the expenditure involved in redensification of the area and ways and means to raise the resources to meet the expenses.

Officers asserted, however, that this alone would totally deal with the shortage of houses, especially for the economically weaker section. An official emphasised that there was need for an integrated approach to the problem so that the needs of the poor would not be ignored.

Meanwhile, presiding over the seminar, UT Administrator Lt Gen B.K.N. Chhibber retd said that Chandigarh was passing through a period of uncertain growth and development. He expressed concern that the number of jhuggis and rehris /pharis was growing in the City at a fast pace. The illegal construction in many areas in the City was due to lapses on the part of the Administration and the failure to tackle it effectively, he said.

While delivering the keynote address, Jagdish Sagar, Adviser to the UT Administrator, said that the apparent tranquility of Chandigarh, a designer City,8217; was deceptive and it would soon go the way of the other Indian cities if steps are not taken immediately to sustain it.

Mayor Gian Chand Gupta emphasised the need to control the inflow of migratory labour and comprehensive planning of the vacant open areas. Finance Secretary G. Vajralingam highlighted the major issues before the City and the need to effectively address them for its sustained development. Midha dwelled on the rapidly increasing population of the City and the burden on its infrastructure.

After the inaugural session, two brainstorming sessions were held on issues relating to the City. While one of these focussed on the Future growth and development of Chandigarh and its environs 8211; its future physical form,8217; the other session dealt with Planning and provision of infrastructural requirement.8217;

MC Chief Engineer Puranjit Singh and the UT Senior Town Planner R.K. Wadhawan were among those who presented their papers during the session.