Sector-63 housing project in trouble

Mohali, December 10
The much-delayed Sector-63 housing project of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) is again in trouble with the Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Department reportedly reluctant in permitting the former to integrate the sewer and storm water drainage system of the upcoming dwelling units with that of Mohali.

Citing inadequate carrying capacity, the department has, in a communiqué to the CHB, stated that the existing lines brought storm and sewer discharge of Phases IX and XI, before it moved towards Sector 67.

Recently, the project was in news when officials of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) had objected to the coming of 1,100 flats close to the houses in Phase IX of Mohali. It was then decided that a minimum distance of 60 feet would be maintained between the six-storey block of the Sector 63 housing scheme and row of residential houses in Phase IX of Mohali.

Superintending Engineer of Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Department NK Dhir said he had received no communication in this regard from the CHB.

On the other hand, the Chief Engineer has written a letter to the Superintending Engineer apprising him of the issue. Minutes of a meeting held in the office of the Chief Administrator, GMADA, in August have been mentioned in the letter wherein it was decided that a joint inspection of the existing capacity of the lines would be done. It was also decided that in case the existing line was not adequate to accept the additional discharge, the CHB should be allowed to lay its own line in Mohali area up to the location where the existing service of Mohali could take the additional discharge generated from 1,100 dwelling units of the CHB complex.

But so far no decision has been taken on the issue which is likely to surface in a meeting with Punjab and CHB officials scheduled for December 15.