Allottees of three major Jalandhar Improvement Trust (JIT) housing schemes, Bibi Bhani Complex, Surya Enclave Extension and Indrapuram Master Gurbanta Singh Enclave, have raised concerns over the prolonged delay in the release of nearly Rs 85 crore in refund despite favourable orders from the Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions, State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, New Delhi.
The allottees said around 440 cases have already been decided by different consumer fora since 2015, in which merely 150 allottees have received their payments whereas approximately 290 allottees are yet to get the payment. They also pointed out that, apart from the pending refund amount, the trust is required to pay nearly Rs 9 crore annually as interest on these dues.
They further noted that the dispute traces its roots to the Indrapuram Master Gurbanta Singh Enclave scheme launched by the JIT in 2006 in which nearly 880 allottees invested in flats. However, despite the absence of basic amenities, the trust issued notices in 2009, asking beneficiaries to take possession of their flats between September 15 and October 15.
The notice warned that a watch and ward charge of Rs 1,000 per month would be levied on those who failed to take possession within the stipulated period.
The JIT had also informed the allottees that the construction cost of the flats had increased, resulting in an additional charge of Rs 62,569 per flat, including cess charges. The amount could be paid either in a lump sum or through three quarterly installments. In its notice, the trust maintained that all basic amenities had been provided and urged allottees to occupy their flats.
Darshan Singh Ahuja, president of the Bibi Bhani Complex Allottees Association, alleged that essential facilities required for habitation, including water supply, electricity, sewerage and streetlights, were not available when possession was offered. He claimed that electricity connections were provided only on February 1, 2013, nearly four years after the possession notices were issued.
Ahuja further alleged that similar issues plagued the Bibi Bhani Complex scheme, launched in 2010, where around 264 allottees were promised possession by July 2012, as per their allotment letters. In the Surya Enclave Extension scheme, launched in 2011, nearly 400 allottees invested in plots and flats, but the project could not be developed due to a Punjab and Haryana High Court stay linked to land acquisition disputes.
According to rulings of different consumer commissions, the JIT had directed to refund the amount within 45 days of receiving the order, failing which the rate of interest would increase from 9 per cent to 12 per cent, in some cases. Despite these orders, the refunds remain pending, hassling the allottees who have posed their trust in the JIT housing project, by investing their hard-earned money.