Chandigarh, Nov. 13 -- More than a week after Union home minister Amit Shah promised three Diwali gifts for Chandigarh, the announcements remain elusive, with the UT administration still awaiting the Ministry of home affairs' (MHA) clearance on key proposals concerning property ownership and industrial development.

The three proposed measures include conversion of leasehold commercial and industrial properties into freehold, amendments to master plan, and grant of ownership rights to eligible residents of rehabilitation colonies. No formal announcement has been made so far, leaving thousands of property owners, traders, industrialists and rehabilitation-colony residents waiting for relief.

Shah, during his visit on November 1 for the 60...