The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority has failed to ensure affordable housing for economically weaker sections of the society in projects of private builders, according to the annual audit and inspection report for the financial year 2013-14. As per the report, builders developing a project of 40 hectares or more are required to reserve 5 per cent area for the housing of EWS. However, records show that even though a number of licences were issued to promoters and builders for mega projects and residential buildings from 2006 to 2013, none of them constructed houses for weaker sections. The audit report noted that ‘no concrete steps have been taken by the department to get these houses built and allotted.’ According to Section 5(9) of the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act (PAPRA), a promoter shall, where the total area of the colony is 40 hectares or more, reserve up to 10 per cent of the area under residential plots and apartments for being sold or leased to persons belonging to EWS, said the report. It added that as per provisions of the government policy notified in November 2008 and subsequently amended in September 2011, all developers have to keep 5 per cent area reserved for the housing of EWS. “Accordingly, as a concession to promote affordable housing, the change of land use (CLU) charges, external development charges (EDC) and licence fee were not charged from promoters for the area reserved for EWS,” the report said. “Scrutiny of records maintained in GMADA revealed that during March 2006 and May 2013, licences to set up residential buildings and mega projects have been issued to a number of promoters/builders but none of them constructed houses for EWS, whereas no deadline for completion of mega projects were mentioned,” said the report. Also, the Department of Housing and Urban Development amended the housing policy in December 2013 and it was decided that the area reserved for EWS houses would be transferred to GMADA/concerned authority free of cost. However, the department could not get the liability of promoters fulfilled, which needs justification, noted the report. A GMADA official said that land for EWS housing had been reserved by buildres but due to frequent change in government policy, no construction had taken place. “Also, they are trying to construct multi-storey apartments in this land. We will go through the audit report and file a detailed reply,” the official said.