CHANDIGARH, July 9— With preparations under way to auction over 7.5 acres for a multi-storey housing project in Manimajra, the Municipal Corporation (MC) Chandigarh has sought urgent clarification from the UT Administration regarding the provision of housing for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS).
In a letter to the Secretary, Local Government, the MC’s Joint Commissioner requested details on the policy governing the construction, specifications, cost limits, and allotment of EWS housing. The request follows the General House’s approval of auction terms and conditions eight days ago.
The housing project, located in pocket number 6 of Manimajra, includes zoning requirements that mandate housing for the service population, including domestic workers. “As per the plan, the number of such dwelling units shall not be less than 15% of the total main dwelling units, with each unit having a minimum area of 30 square metres,” the letter stated.
The civic body emphasized that it needed the latest guidelines on EWS housing to ensure compliance before launching the e-auction. “It is essential to have clarity on EWS norms before proceeding, especially after issues arose in earlier projects,” said a senior MC official, referring to the controversy over EWS housing in the Uppal Housing project, where confusion over compliance followed the land auction.
The MC has also asked for clarity regarding commercial properties within the upcoming Manimajra housing project. While the UT Administration has confirmed that residential land can be auctioned on a freehold basis, it has yet to specify the terms for commercial plots.
Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla confirmed that the issue had been raised again with the Administration. “We are following up actively. Without a clear policy on EWS housing and commercial components, moving ahead with the auction would be premature,” she said.
The civic body, grappling with a financial crunch, is eyeing over ₹800 crore in potential revenue from the auction — a critical step to address its budgetary shortfall. The Manimajra project is one of the most ambitious land sales by the MC since it sold 5.39 acres in the same locality for ₹108 crore in 2005, and a hotel site in Sector 35 for ₹101.37 crore a year later.
Construction of multi-storey residential units is planned at the site, but officials reiterated that they cannot proceed until the EWS housing policy is clarified to avoid legal and administrative hurdles later.
