‘Cheated’ by realtor, 400 families approach CM

Tribune News Service

Karnal, July 22

After depositing almost the entire amount over more than seven years, around 400 families have been left in the lurch as Soni Realtors Private Limited has reportedly not handed over possession of plots in Sector 32-A here.

The residents have been running from pillar to post to get their land registered from a licensed coloniser. A large number of residents on Sunday alleged that even after getting possession letters and depositing the full amount since 2011, they could not get their land registered.

They approached Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar at the PWD Rest House to raise the issue. The Chief Minister assured them that injustice would not be meted out.

He asked them to meet the Director, Town and Country Planning Department. Earlier in the day, they met a delegation of the National Company Law Tribunal and submitted their claims.

Mukesh Sharma, one of the affected, said Soni Realtors had got a licence from the Town and Country Planning Department in 2011 to develop a colony on 55 acres comprising commercial plots on around two acres.

He said the coloniser had sold more than 400 plots and plot holders were assured of possession by 2015. He said after failing to get possession of their land, the residents had approached officials of the department, but no action had been taken.

Dr Rakesh Jindal, also among the affected, said he had purchased a 250-yard plot in the colony and deposited around Rs 23 lakh between 2011 and 2013, but was waiting for registration of the plot in his name. “The company owner has left us in an awkward situation as we do not have registry of plots,” he said.

One of the affected said she had procured a 359-yard plot and deposited full payment by 2016. “We have been assured of possession and registry of land, but are still living in rented accommodation and paying instalment on home loan,” she said.

Sandeep Chauhan, who was also affected, said the Town and Country Planning Department should take over the colony for the large interests of residents.

District Town Planner Amrik Singh said the company had not deposited government fee and so they had issued a notice under Section 18. If the fee was not deposited, the licence of the company would be cancelled, he said. Despite several attempts, officials of the company could not be contacted for comment.