Tech glitch, regional bias: E-draw for 708 affordable flats will be held again in Gurgaon
Gurgaon: The department of town and country planning (DTCP) has scrapped the e-draw held on Jan 27 for the allotment of 708 flats under the
affordable housing scheme
in Sohna Sector 36. The decision to scrap the e-draw — announced through a public notice on Thursday (May 1) — came after alleged "technical discrepancies and regional bias" raised serious concerns over the fairness of the process. A four-member probe panel has already been set up after "technical glitches" hit the Aster Avenue-36 project being developed by 4S Developers Pvt Ltd.
A senior DTCP official, who ordered a probe on Feb 13, said on Friday the allotments stand cancelled and a fresh draw will be conducted soon. "Instructions have been issued for a complete review and test run of the software to ensure future draws comply with policy norms," he said.
You Can Also Check:
Gurgaon AQI
|
Weather in Gurgaon
|
Bank Holidays in Gurgaon
|
Public Holidays in Gurgaon
According to the public notice issued by senior town planner Renuka Singh on May 1, the department cancelled the draw after discovering only 2,200 of the 51,586 valid applications were processed by the e-draw software due to a technical glitch. The flawed draw not only excluded a large number of applicants but also raised eyebrows when all 708 flats were allotted to residents of Sohna town alone. This allocation pattern violated the state's Affordable Housing Policy, 2013 which prioritises
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
(PMAY) beneficiaries but does not allow preference based on geographic location.
Anamika, an applicant from Delhi, said, "It's unfair that all flats went to one town. The govt must ensure transparency." Arvind Kumar from the city echoed her concerns, saying, "Affordable housing should be inclusive. This issue must not be repeated."
Following the controversy, a four-member committee was set up to investigate whether the irregularities stemmed from a technical malfunction, administrative oversight or deliberate bias. The panel, comprising senior officials from the town planning and IT departments, has been directed to examine the e-draw system and submit a report within 10 days.
The project, under licence number 235 of 2023, originally received 52,033 applications, out of which 447 were disqualified due to incomplete documents. A DTCP official said, "Applicants who no longer wish to participate in the project can withdraw their applications through the portal (tcpharyana.gov.in) and receive a full refund. The department assured that the fresh draw will include all 51,586 previously eligible applicants and the date will be announced shortly." The incident has sparked a debate on the need for greater oversight in Haryana's affordable housing allotment system.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
6 hours ago
- Hans India
Women are now key drivers of progress in India: FM Nirmala Sitharaman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday highlighted that in the last 11 years, women have emerged as key drivers of progress in the country, with the Narendra Modi government launching various schemes to empower Nari Shakti. Highlighting '11 years of Sashakt Nari', the Finance Minister said that under the PM Jan Dhan Yojna, the world's largest financial inclusion scheme, 55.7 per cent of accounts were held by women, which reflected their empowerment at the grassroots level. She further pointed out that women now account for 68 per cent of the MUDRA loan beneficiaries nationwide. These loans have enabled lakhs of women to become entrepreneurs and pursue their dreams independently. Apart from this, 74 per cent of those getting benefits under the Start-Up India entrepreneurs scheme are also women. Besides, 73 per cent of houses under the PMAY (Gramin) scheme for the poor are owned by women, she said. The Finance Minister also mentioned that 10 crore LPG connections have been given to poor women under the Ujjwala Yojana. These have come as a big boon for them, making their life easier with accompanying health benefits. They have been freed from the harmful smoke of wood and other fuels, such as cow dung, that were used for cooking earlier. The Jan Dhan scheme has been a huge success in financial inclusion, as the average bank balance per account in March 2015 was Rs 1,065, which has now increased to Rs 4,352. Around 80 per cent of the accounts are active, she added. As many as 66.6 per cent of Jan Dhan accounts have been opened in rural and semi-urban areas, and 29.56 crore (55.7 per cent) belong to women account holders. These accounts are used on a large scale. People are also depositing money in them. However, this scheme allows zero balance accounts, and only 8.4 per cent of the accounts have zero balance. When the Modi government first came to power about 10 years ago, it set a target of providing financial and banking services to every citizen. For this, zero balance bank accounts were opened in the banks for the poorest of the poor under 'Pradhanmantri Jan Dhan Yojana' launched on August 28, 2014.
New Indian Express
10 hours ago
- New Indian Express
PMAY beneficiaries to get two tractor-loads of sand free: Odisha Min Pujari
BHUBANESWAR: In a move to reduce financial burden of the poor and low income group people, especially beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), the state government on Saturday announced to provide two tractor-loads of sand free of cost for house construction. Informing the decision, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari told mediapersons that a proposal is also being drafted to ensure supply of sand to people at reasonable rates for house construction. 'The government has decided to issue permit to poor and low income group people to get sand free of cost ensuring that affordable housing becomes a reality. This will reduce the construction cost of the poor people especially the PMAY beneficiaries,' the minister said. At the same time, sand prices will be regulated to make it affordable for different income groups who depend on local suppliers and dealers, mostly dominated by the sand mafia. 'Illegal mining of sand from riverbed by sand mafia and sometime by the Water Resources department for general purpose, and transportation of sand using heavy vehicles like Hyva trucks are the other areas of concern. The government will take a call on the two issues soon,' Pujari said.
Economic Times
a day ago
- Economic Times
Defence exports signal India's rise as regional security provider
Democracies are rightly subjected to a higher standard of scrutiny in the delivery of goods and services to the unserved and underserved. In India, that test is exacting. No slogan survives without substance, no claim without consequence. Real transformation must reach the last person because in our democracy Antyodaya casts a vote. That is why, one year into Modi 3.0, the resounding mandates in Delhi, Maharashtra and Haryana are not just political milestones -they are a reaffirmation that in today's India delivery, not rhetoric, earns trust. Programmes anchored in the philosophy of 'Sarvodaya through Antyodaya' ensure that no Indian is left behind. More than 25 crore people have been lifted out of multidimensional poverty. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) has disbursed over Rs 3.68 lakh crore to more than 11 crore farmers. The 'Lakhpati Didi' initiative has empowered over one crore rural women to achieve annual incomes exceeding Rs 1 lakh. Nearly 3 crore houses have been sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. The Jal Jeevan Mission has provided tap water connections to over 15.44 rural households. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) has been expanded to offer free health coverage of ₹5 lakh per year for all citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income. This is expected to benefit approximately 6 crore senior citizens, providing them with comprehensive healthcare access and financial protection. Additionally, the scheme has been extended to include frontline community health Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to zero tolerance policy against terrorists was evident in the swift response to the Pahalgam attack, where terrorists had targeted innocent tourists. The nation mourned the loss but stood united, executing Operation Sindoor with precision and dominance, reaffirming its resolve to combat terrorism and protect its citizens. The world witnessed Indian defence forces' technological and strategic superiority, backed by the strong and decisive leadership of the PM. The resolute political will is matched by strategic investment in self-reliance. India's swift precision during Operation Sindoor was enabled, in part, by years of steady focus on indigenising defence capacity. Post-2014, India's defence manufacturing has been rapidly modernised, with exports rising substantially. This transformation is not accidental. Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission, key reforms such as the Defence Acquisition Procedure, Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy and the opening of 100% FDI for certain sectors have enabled homegrown firms to thrive. The introduction of two dedicated PLI schemes for drones and components has further catalysed next-gen innovation. Today, Indian-designed missile systems, armoured vehicles and naval platforms are not only deployed in our forces but exported to over 80 countries, reinforcing India's image as a regional security provider at a time when global trust in reliable defence partners is at a is at the centre of this vision. India is making strides in the semiconductor sector, driven by major investments and government incentives. Tata Electronics is constructing a ₹27,000 crore semiconductor assembly and testing plant in Assam, expected to begin operations by mid-2025 and create around 27,000 jobs. Meanwhile, a ₹3,706 crore joint venture between HCL and Foxconn is set to establish a semiconductor unit in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, focusing on display driver chips, with production starting in is now the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world, with over 1.57 lakh recognised startups - including more than 100 unicorns and over 3,600 deep-tech ventures focused on AI, biotech and semiconductors. Our space sector alone has given rise to more than 200 startups, signalling the rise of a confident innovation economy. The startup ecosystem has already created more than 17.2 lakh direct jobs and ignited a new generation of problem-solvers and India has quietly emerged as the world's most connected democracy. With over 80 crore internet users and 136 crore Aadhaar enrolments, it hosts the largest digital identity programme on the planet. We now account for 46% of global digital payments, powered by platforms like UPI that have democratised financial transactions. These systems have not only empowered citizens but made governance smarter, faster and more budget for 2024-25 embodied the government's decisiveness. Total expenditure was pegged at ₹44.6 lakhcrore, with capital outlay raised to an unprecedented ₹10 lakhcrore. Tax exemptions were widened, middle-class rebates doubled, and the angel tax - long a concern for startups - was abolished. These reforms consolidate consumption, catalyse entrepreneurship and cement India's long-term growth year into Modi 3.0, the momentum is unmistakable. Roads, factories and solar panels are not just signs of progress, they are foundations for aspiration. In every sphere - economic, social and strategic. India is scripting a new chapter of national renewal. Under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, the decisive decade is well underway. The Author is is Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas
