Chandigarh, April 23, 2026: Former Municipal Councillor and Director of the Chandigarh Housing Board, Shakti Prakash Devshali, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate intervention over the threat of demolition looming over thousands of Chandigarh Housing Board houses. He said that more than 50,000 flats of the Chandigarh Housing Board are home to nearly 400,000 people, and that most of these families have been living there for the past 40–45 years.

Devshali said that over time, due to increasing family size and limited housing options, residents made minor alterations and additional constructions within their allotted plotted area as per their needs. He clarified that in most cases there has been no encroachment on government land; rather, the construction has remained within the allotted limits. He added that because of the old policies of the Chandigarh Housing Board, once a family has availed the benefit of one scheme, it is not eligible for a larger housing scheme in the future. As a result, when families expanded, they were left with no practical option except to modify their existing homes.

Devshali expressed concern that at present a large number of homeowners have already been issued notices by the Chandigarh Housing Board, and according to media reports, action has been initiated against around 1,400 houses. He said that this is not merely a matter of demolishing structures, but a serious social issue concerning the shelter, security, and dignity of thousands of families. If such action continues, a large number of families may be rendered homeless, and it could also create a law-and-order problem in the city.

In his letter to the Prime Minister, Shakti Prakash Devshali has demanded that, on the lines of the model adopted in Delhi for resolving unauthorized constructions, a One Time Settlement scheme should also be implemented for the Chandigarh Housing Board. Under this scheme, allottees should be asked to submit proof of ownership, a certificate stating that there is no legal impediment to the residential unit, the complete building plan, and a structural safety certificate. On the basis of the additional constructed area, a prescribed compounding fee should be charged, and demolition action should be stopped with immediate effect. He said that this would not only generate revenue worth crores of rupees for the government, but would also provide relief to lakhs of citizens. He further said that it is equally necessary to prepare a concrete redevelopment plan for these houses, many of which are over four decades old and have become dilapidated.

Devshali suggested that the houses of the Chandigarh Housing Board should be redeveloped in a phased manner under PPP mode. In place of the existing three-storey structures, six-storey flats equipped with basement parking, lifts, and modern amenities should be constructed. Of these six floors, three floors should be given to the existing allottees, while the remaining three floors should be sold in the open market to make the project financially viable.

He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central Government has provided housing to crores of people through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, and therefore the residents of the Chandigarh Housing Board should also receive just and humane relief. He urged the Central Government to formulate a policy and take an immediate decision to remove the threat of homelessness hanging over lakhs of people in Chandigarh.