Thirty-six families in Hubballi, who vacated their homes for crucial infrastructure development, are now living in deteriorating conditions as the promised handover of their new apartments has been delayed by several months. The affected residents have urgently appealed to the government for immediate relief, pointing to the swift rehabilitation provided in a similar case in Bengaluru's Kogilu layout.
Broken Promises and Deepening Uncertainty
The families, whose houses in the Hosur area near Vanivilas Circle were built under the Akram-Sakram scheme, agreed to move out to facilitate road widening and ongoing flyover construction. Authorities had assured them that alternative houses constructed under the Smart City project in Vidyanagar would be ready for possession by Deepavali. However, that deadline passed, and the handover process remains stalled.
"Officials first told us in September to be ready by Dasara," shared a woman resident who wished to remain anonymous for fear of losing her compensatory accommodation. "Then they said Deepavali, and later postponed it to January. We don't know the reason. Because of this uncertainty, we didn't even paint our house for Deepavali."
Life on Hold Amid Demolition Threats
The prolonged delay has forced residents to put their lives on hold. Many have stopped maintaining their current homes, anticipating a move that never materializes. The uncertainty has led to severe personal disruptions.
One resident revealed that a family wedding had to be postponed. "The marriage was planned during Kartika Maasa (November–December), but we couldn't proceed as we were unsure when our house would be demolished," he said. "Officials warned us that the demolition could happen soon."
Residents also expressed anguish over the perceived neglect, contrasting their situation with the prompt action taken for Kogilu layout residents in Bengaluru. "We have lived here for more than three decades and have faced displacement threats repeatedly. Some of us have been relocated two or three times in the past," they collectively stated.
Official Response: Power Connection Issues Cited
Responding to the growing concerns, local MLA Mahesh Tenginakai attributed the delay to issues concerning electricity connections for the new apartments. He explained that while each beneficiary was initially asked to pay Rs 10,000 for the connection, the authorities intervened considering their financial condition.
"We instructed the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) to bear the cost of Rs 3-4 lakh, which has now been done," the MLA said. He added that to ensure transparency, the houses are being allotted through a lottery system. "We will convene another meeting with officials and ensure that the residents are allotted their houses at the earliest," he assured.
Despite officials claiming power connections are now in place, the families, who have been waiting for months, are yet to receive a concrete date for moving into their new homes, leaving them in a state of prolonged distress and uncertainty.
