Gurgaon: Residents unsure if developers will bear maintenance cost
The residents said they had grave doubts whether the developers will pay for infrastructure upgrade and civic maintenance as has been laid down as part of the terms for the transfer
A day after the state government gave its nod to the takeover of three licenced private colonies, the residents of these localities were sceptical on whether the decision would ever translate into reality. The residents voiced grave doubts on whether the developer would even comply with the terms set for the transfer of colonies. DLF Phase I-III, Sushant Lok I and Palam Vihar are the three private colonies which were granted licences in early 1980s.
The residents said that the inadequate infrastructure and the expenses involved for the necessary upgrade have been the core concerns for them.
“I doubt if the developer would meet the terms set for the transfer. We fear the developers would not pay for the infrastructure upgrade (of these colonies) and the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) will refuse to take over unless the conditions are met. There same situation would prevail,” AK Nagpal, president, Sushant Lok residents’ welfare association (RWA), said.
Nagpal said, “The MCG, in March,directed Ansal (the developer) to upgrade roads, sewer lines etc. Later, the town planning department even threatened Ansal with being held liable for forfeiture of the bank guarantee. However, nothing worked. Every effort to make the Ansals pay for maintenance went in vain.”
Read I CM nod to transfer of Gurgaon’s DLF areas, Sushant Lok, Palam Vihar to MCG
The residents of Palam Vihar feel the transfer order that was issued at the behest of chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar is an eyewash.
“We know what our colonies are lacking in. However, for reasons not known to us, the government did not consider including the residents in the assessment committee. The developer has not spent a single penny (on maintenance and infrastructure upgrade) in the last 7-8 years. We doubt if the transfer will ever happen,” Sunil Yadav, president, RWA, Palam Vihar, said.
A group of residents,under the banner of Gurgaon Citizens’ Council (GCC), on Thursday met principal secretary to Haryana Rajesh Khullar to discuss the transfer issue.
“Khullar assured us that three colonies will have to comply with the terms of the (transfer) order, failing which the government will be forced to take strict action that may include forfeiting their bank guarantees,” RS Rathee, president, GCC, said adding that the same rule will be applied in future transfer of other licenced colonies.
Following a meeting featuring the chief minister and officials of urban local bodies in this regard, the three developers will have to apply for completion certificates and pay maintenance cost for the next five years.
The cost of five years will be assessed by a team.
