Their long-standing dream now seems to be within reach as the letter of approval for land was sanctioned by the chief administrator's office of Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), Chandigarh, last week. The approval came in just after two weeks of a report published in HT Live, highlighting the issue.

"Land was a big hurdle in the construction of the community centre, for which association had been making relentless efforts. It had submitted several representations to the HUDA, both atGurgaon office as well as in Chandigarh.

Finally we got the good news last week when the approval letter was received, which mentions that one and a-half acres has been earmarked for community centre," said Rajaram Yadav, an office bearer of the residents welfare association (RWA), Sector 15-II.

"Along with the approval letter is attached a copy of the layout plan of the sector showing the site earmarked for the cen tre measuring one and a-half acres of land, which earlier was earmarked for a group housing for the Forest Department," said S. P. Ahuja, officebearer of the association.

It is worth noting that RWA members of Sector 15-II had met the HUDA Administrator, G. Anupama, in this regard.

"We identified an appropriate land in the colony and placed our request before the HUDA Administrator. The land was lying vacant since the inception of the colony," said R. P.Teals, president of the RWA.

According to the RWA, a foundation stone was to be laid in a plot earmarked behind Ahmed Hospital when the last general elections were approaching. Even then, the proposal was scrapped due to the code of conduct. The new site is also in close proximity of the said hospital.

It remains to be seen how long the town planning department of HUDA will take in finalising the layout of the centre,after which the civil department will spring into action.

"It is now up to civil engineering department to execute the plan after our role is over in getting the plan passed by the head office in Chandigarh," said Madhu Pradeep, senior town planner,Gurgaon.