representative imageBhubaneswar: allocation of Dhauli HeightsA housing project in Tamando, on the outskirts of the city, is once again hoping for a positive response to their grievances from the government in the upcoming winter session of the Assembly as to when they can get possession of their units.
Around 40 home buyers got their allotment in the premium housing project executed by Odisha Cooperative Housing Corporation Ltd. (OCHC). However, more than 11 years have passed, and they have still not received possession.
OCHC announced that the project would be implemented in public-private partnership mode in 2013. The project was to be completed in 2016. However, it got stuck due to lack of funds and subsequent litigation problems with the private company.
OCHC removed the private partner from the housing project, but was unable to complete it. After this the buyers contacted Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Real Estate Regulatory Authority)Orera), which ordered compensation to the buyers and completion of the project by 2019.
The matter was raised several times in the past by various MLAs in the Assembly, including in the recent session in August, but no progress was made.
N Shiv Shankar, secretary of the Dhauli Heights Association of allottees, said, “We have not received our allotment yet. This time, three more MLAs will raise questions on the issue in the Assembly. We are hopeful that there will be some positive development.”
In 2019, the then Corporation Minister, Ranendra Pratap Swain, acknowledged the issue of funding shortage but assured home buyers that they would get their homes by the end of that year. However, no progress was made. The issue was raised again in the Assembly in 2021 when Swain assured that OERA orders on compensating home buyers were in progress and allottees would get their houses from OCHC by December 2022.
In the interim, the Odisha Police Welfare Housing Corporation was involved, which started the work. Sources said it has already completed the work but has not handed over the flats awaiting the balance payment from OCHC.
In August, Cooperation Minister Pradeep Bal Samant told the Assembly that allotments for home buyers had already started.
