SATISH HANDA
Recent raids by teams of Income Department at the residential and commercial premises of Haryana MLAs Dharam Singh Chhokar of Congress and an independent leader Balraj Kundu exposed large number of embezzlements in real estate companies involved in construction of flats under Affordable Group Housing Scheme assuring own house by every one by the year 2025 on which handsome subsidy is being allowed to the builders make available houses at reduced, affordable prices. Income Tax Department teams during raids took into possession several documents including a diary at Chhokar’s residence having detail of nearly 100 crore suspicious purchase bills of construction material which could not be clarified during preliminary investigation.
Income Tax teams also raided two projects at Gurugram and Delhi where construction of flats under this scheme was going on and took into possession several cheques issued by people booked the flats in these projects, which were not deposited in the bank. Preliminary investigation revealed that large number of builders booked flats under Affordable Housing Scheme in the names of their family members, friends and staff members to enable them to sell these flats later on higher rates getting handsome premium.. Information reveals, there are several concessions available to builders of flats under this scheme by the government, which include additional covered area in these flats, special rebate in each acre area development fee (EDC) area and 100% rebate in license fee, rebate in interest on bank loans for purchse of these flats as compared to flats constructed under ordinary housing schemes and rebate in income tax.
Sources reveal, large number of builders constructed flats under Affordable Group Housing Scheme 2013 after getting license from the government found involved in earning huge amount through embezzlements. According to information, 103 licenses were issued by the government to different real estate companies at Gurugram seven years ago, of them only 16 companies have been able to obtain completion certificate so far and 26 builders has not applied for completion certificate so far even after five years completion in construction work. Government of Haryana has decided to impose Rs 80 lakh fine on each acre land on builders unable to complete their projects in scheduled time and few companies has decided to move to court against this decision likely to have further delay in allotment of flats to those booked flats in a hope to have their own residential houses.
Information also reveals, government issued 103 licenses to develop 88 residential colonies in hundreds acres area in Haryana state, of them site plans of 79 colonies were approved, completion certificate was issued to 16 builders completed work, part-completion certificates were issued to two projects, nearly 50% work has been completed so far in 23 projects and as many as five builders has also applied for completion certificate yet under consideration. Manohar Lal Khatter Chief Minister Haryana recently talking to media persons warned stern action against builders delaying completion of Affordable Group Housing Projects for one reason or the other and involved in embezzlements to earn extra money.
