Surat: In a fresh challenge for Nasir Nagar residents and the city civic body, residents of a housing colony where the displaced families may be rehabilitated have opposed the proposed allotment of flats to them.Following a High Court order, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) is looking for an alternative location to rehabilitate the Nasir Nagar residents, but each option appears to be throwing up fresh challenges. The civic body is now exploring alternatives ahead of the next hearing.Residents of Suman Maitri Pradhanmantri Awas Colony in Jahangirpura have opposed a reported plan to allot flats in their complex to families from Nasir Nagar and submitted a memorandum to the civic body seeking its intervention.The SMC is already on the back foot over the demolition of homes in Nasir Nagar without following due procedure. The civic body is facing a legal battle over the issue and has drawn the High Court’s ire over the lapses.Recently, the civic body began the process of allotting homes to 26 petitioners. The move, however, was opposed by other residents who claimed that they too were eligible for housing.Residents of the Jahangirpura colony said they recently learnt that a large number of Nasir Nagar residents could be allotted flats in the Suman Maitri PM Awas colony. They also submitted the memorandum to city mayor Maya Mavani and standing committee chairman Rajan Patel, urging them to reconsider the proposal.In their submission, the residents objected to the proposed relocation, claiming that it could significantly alter the demographic composition of the colony. They said concentrating a large number of families from the same locality and community in one complex could create tensions and affect social harmony.“Currently, people from different communities and religions live in this colony and they live like a family. But shifting people from one community in such large numbers will create a challenging situation in future,” the memorandum stated.The residents also argued that the move would dilute the intended purpose of the Pradhanmantri Awas scheme. They urged the civic body to instead allot the flats to applicants already on the waiting list under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) housing schemes. They pointed out that beneficiaries under such schemes are generally accommodated at different locations rather than concentrated in one housing pocket.Residents also raised concerns about possible disputes arising from differences in lifestyles, culture and food habits if a large group of families were relocated together. Some residents claimed that around 100 flats could potentially be allotted to Nasir Nagar families.“If so many people are shifted from the same locality, those already living here will face difficulties. People living here are from financially challenging backgrounds and do not have many options to find homes elsewhere,” a resident said.An SMC official, however, said no decision had been taken to allot flats at any particular location to Nasir Nagar residents.“No decision to allot flats at any specific location to Nasir Nagar residents has been made. The process of collecting details of the residents is under way, and homes will be allotted later,” the official said.
