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Among the nine towers deemed unfit for habitation, Chintels India Private Limited has sent a letter to the district town planner (enforcement) on tower F stating that they have found “a serious problem” on a balcony of the structure. The area around the tower has been cordoned off.
The tower currently has two residents who have not opted for any of the choices given by the builder to move out, said an RWA member.
According to the letter, the builder said, “It has come to our notice that the balcony of Flat No F-403 is sagging and is posing a serious threat to the residents’ movement. As per your directions that no repairs should be carried out in the structures, we are unable to repair the same, but keeping the safety of the residents in mind we are cordoning off the F tower area.”
Over a year ago, a large portion of a sixth-floor apartment in tower D of the society collapsed all the way to the first floor, killing two women and injuring a man. There are nine towers in Chintels; four of these have been declared unsafe so far — E, F, D and G.
The builder has given two options to residents of the four towers. The options included buyback at Rs 6,500 per square foot plus actual stamp duty paid plus the cost of interiors as determined by the government-appointed evaluators; and rebuilding in which case Rs 1,000 per square foot built up for material cost increase will be charged, but the residents will not have to pay rent.
The letter by the builder further stated that they have been taking all precautions against a potential accident. “In case of any mishap, we should not be held responsible…Despite our repeated requests two residents are still living in Tower F. We request you to kindly intervene…to immediately get these flats vacated,” the letter stated.
Meanwhile, one of the two residents said the balcony has been sagging for over a year now. “The main entry of the tower has been closed in a bid to cordon the tower off and we have been using the basement entry to our flats,” said Sanjay Katiyar. “The damage they attribute to shut the tower has been there for over a year. Why didn’t they think before that it could have collapsed? Four days ago, they shut the entry, and on Sunday, the guards said both lifts in the tower have stopped working. I have asked them to repair at least one of them,” Katiyar added.
He said the builder has tried every way to get them out and this seems like their last resort. “We cannot accept any of the two options. The market value for the houses is changing, and they can’t give that amount. We have sought a flat, even that they cannot provide us with. We are waiting for the court order as the next date of hearing is on July 4.”
Chintels spokesperson JN Yadav said, “Moving out is an order by the administration only for the safety and security of residents and it is very important that they abide by this order.”
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