RWA MEMBERS CONDEMN THE GOVERNMENT’S DECISION IN A MEETING, GOVERNMENT MUST IMMEDIATELY AMEND THE NOTIFICATION, OR WE WILL BE FORCED TO APPROACH THE COURT : SAYS LT. COL. V.K. NAYAR (RETD.), PRESIDENT, RWA

The Punjab Government has issued a notification expanding the limits of the Mohali Municipal Corporation (MC) to include Aerocity, IT City, and sectors 66, 81 to 86, 90 to 94, as well as the PSIEC Industrial Sectors 73 and 74. However, Sector 121, Balongi, and Badmajra have been excluded from this notification — even though their inclusion was already recommended in a resolution passed by the MC in December 2021.

This decision has sparked strong resentment among the residents of ATS Casa Espana, a residential colony located in Sector 121. Expressing their displeasure, members of the colony’s Resident Welfare Association (RWA), led by Lt. Col. V.K. Nayar (Retd.), held a meeting and unanimously condemned the Punjab Government’s decision.

Lt. Col. Nayar (Retd.) explained that ATS Casa Espana, Sector 121, was approved by GMADA under License No. LDC-14/2013 and Zoning Plan Drawing No. SD-1 dated June 7, 2013. Phase 1 of the project has already been completed, and over 500 property owners have taken possession. Currently, around 500 families are residing in the colony. The project is located adjacent to the Verka Milk Plant in Sector 56, which already falls within the Municipal Corporation’s jurisdiction.

Lt. Col. Nayar further stated that among the residents of ATS Casa Espana are around 40 retired and distinguished officers from the armed forces and police, who have invested their life savings in this project, considering it their final home in Mohali. The residents have already faced severe losses due to delayed possession and poor construction quality.

Moreover, both the builder (ATS Infrabuild Pvt. Ltd.) and the authorities had assured that Sector 121 would be included whenever the MC boundaries were expanded. However, the recent exclusion of the sector from the notification has caused deep disappointment and anger among the residents. He emphasized that they will stand united and strongly oppose this arbitrary and unjust notification.

Lt. Col. Nayar also highlighted that the inclusion of Sector 121 in the expanded MC limits is essential, as the sector is adjacent to Sector 56, is a fully urbanized area, and lies along the National Highway — the gateway to Chandigarh. Around 500 families living in Casa Espana have already paid ₹34 crore to GMADA as External Development Charges (EDC). Excluding this sector from the notification is discriminatory, as it deprives residents of legitimate civic facilities and municipal services, despite being a fully developed urban community.

Lt. Col. Nayar (Retd.) urged the Punjab Government to seriously reconsider these facts and amend the notification to include Sector 121 within the expanded limits of the Mohali Municipal Corporation. Otherwise, residents will be compelled to seek legal recourse against this notification in the appropriate court of law.