The long-pending need-based policy for LIG and MIG flats in Mohali moved a step closer to reality. Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh raised the issue during the monsoon session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly, pressing for a clear timeline on when the policy would finally be implemented.
Responding to the MLA's query, Housing and Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian assured the house that the policy would be implemented soon. However, he did not specify a concrete timeframe for when residents can expect the policy to take effect.
Why the Need-Based Policy for Mohali Flats Matters
The core problem lies in the condition of thousands of flats in the city. According to the discussion in the assembly, around 10,000 LIG flats constructed by the Housing Department before the formation of Greater Mohali Development Authority (GMADA) have a serious issue — residents have built unauthorised additional rooms in these properties.
Because of these unauthorised constructions, owners cannot obtain no-objection certificates (NOCs). Without an NOC, residents are effectively locked out of selling or mortgaging their properties. This has left many families stuck, unable to use their homes as financial assets or move on to new housing.
What the Policy Aims to Address
The need-based policy is designed to resolve this long-standing deadlock. By regularising or addressing the unauthorised additions, the policy would allow residents to finally get the necessary clearances and regain control over their properties.
The issue is not new — it has been pending for a considerable time, and residents have been waiting for a resolution that would let them legally deal with their homes. The MLA's intervention in the assembly was aimed at pushing the government to act on this promise.
"The policy would be implemented soon." — Hardeep Singh Mundian, Housing and Urban Development Minister
Our Take: Residents Need More Than Assurances
To put it plainly, the minister's assurance is welcome, but it is not enough. The residents of these 10,000 flats have heard promises before. What they need is a clear, binding date — not a vague "soon" that could stretch into months or years.
The fact that this issue has been pending for so long is itself a problem. Families have been unable to sell or mortgage their homes, which means their biggest asset is frozen. Every month of delay costs them real money and real opportunity.
We believe the government should move beyond verbal assurances and publish a concrete implementation schedule. The need-based policy is not a complex technical challenge — it is a matter of administrative will. The residents of Mohali have waited long enough, and they deserve a definitive answer on when this policy will actually take effect.
