SAS Nagar, May 22 - Under the banner of Sector 76 to 80 Plot Allotment Committee, 13 registered Residents Development Committees in these sectors together protested in front of Pudda Bhawan Mohali office against the increase in the price of plots by Gamada from the plot owners. Protested and staged a dharna.

Addressing on this occasion, Committee President Sucha Singh Klaud and other leaders said that Pudda had launched a scheme for allotment of 7680 plots in Mohali in 2000 and in 2001, by issuing LoI to the successful allottees, they collected 25 percent of the price of the plots. Karda had promised to give the possession of the plots by December 2002 but the allotment of plots by GAMADA started in 2007 which is continuing till now and about 100 allottees have not been allotted the possession of the plots till now. He said that now after 23 years the milk officer of Gamada has issued notices to the plot owners/transferees to deposit an additional price of 2645 rupees 50 paise per yard which is completely unfair to the plot owners.

Spokespersons said that Gmada is also demanding interest at the rate of 8 per cent per annum on this price while Gmada never sent notices to the plot owners about the additional price before 2023. Along with this, there is no mention or condition in the rules, scheme, policy or allotment letter etc. of GAMADA to levy 8 percent interest on the additional cost, so the levy of 8 percent interest is illegal and it should be withdrawn. The speakers said that out of the land acquired for these sectors, Gamada has added approximately 80 acres of commercial land to Gamada in sectors 85 to 89. But the additional cost found on this land is being recovered from the plot owners of Sector 76 to 80 which is not fair. Apart from this, the land sold by GAMADA for commercial and public buildings in these sectors (and is to be sold) has been charged several times more by GAMADA and more weight should be given to this land in terms of additional value and plots. The owners should be given relief.

The leaders said that in this matter they have met GAMDA and Punjab government officials several times for the last one year and have given demand letters to the Chief Minister, Constituency MLA, Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department and Chief Administrator GAMDA. But no hearing is taking place and no response has been given, due to which the plot owners have been forced to raise their voice to the government and have been continuously protesting for the past one year.

Meanwhile, the estate officer of Gamada came to the protest and received the demand letter and told about the meeting of the leaders on May 27 with the chief administrator Gamada at 3 o'clock. During the dharna, the leaders also warned that if the issue is not resolved by GAMADA/Government before the elections, then the committee members can call a meeting of the general body and take a strict decision, which will be the responsibility of the Punjab government.