Chintels India, the developer of Chintels Paradiso housing complex in Gurugram, has cordoned off Tower F, which had earlier been declared unsafe, to avert any mishap from a sagging balcony of one of the flats.
The developer apprised the Gurgaon authorities about the move and urged them to intervene in evacuating two families still living in the tower.
Meanwhile, the counsel for the Paradiso residents, Prashant Bhushan, has sent a notice to the district administration to direct the builder to pay rent to the affected residents until their rehabilitation and compensation matters are settled.
Several flats in Tower D of the Chintels Paradiso complex collapsed in February 2022, killing two women. The authorities, after structural audits, recommended the demolition of Tower D and the evacuation of nearby towers.
The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi declared Towers E and F of the housing complex in Sector 109 of Gurugram “unsafe to live” in February this year and the district administration issued an evacuation order later that month. There are 60 flats in Tower F and, according to the developer, two apartments are still occupied.
The flat with the sagging balcony is not occupied. It is not known if the two residents are living above or below the flat with the sagging balcony.
Ready to pay
According to a letter sent to the District Town Planner (Enforcement) by the developer, the balcony of flat F-403 in Tower F is sagging and poses a threat to the residents around.
“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 residents in mind, we are cordoning off the Tower F area. In case of any mishap, we should not be held responsible,” the developer said in its note to the DTP (E). “Despite our repeated requests, two residents are still living in Tower F. We request you to kindly intervene, in the interest of their safety, to immediately get these flats vacated.”
Chintels added that it was ready to pay shifting charges to the occupants of flats in towers E, F, G and H, as per the directions of the department.
Also Read: Chintels Paradiso: Residents of towers E, F seek time until July 31 to vacate flats
However, a representative of the residents’ welfare association said on condition of anonymity that the builder is putting pressure on the two families that are staying in Tower F, who have demanded early compensation and rent.
“This act is nothing but harassment as the issue of the sagging balcony has been there for the last few months but now they want to vacate flats forcibly, so they are highlighting this matter,” the resident told Moneycontrol.
Legal notice
Bhushan sent the legal notice to Nishant Kumar Yadav, who is Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and is also Deputy Commissioner of Gurugram, against the order issued to the flat owners of towers E, F and G to vacate their flats.
According to the notice, the DDMA chairman ordered the evacuation without making any provision for the payment of rent to the affected residents until their dispute with the builder over their rehabilitation or settlement is finalised.
Also Read: One year of Chintels roof collapse in Gurugram: An uncertain future awaits residents
In the notice, Bhushan asked Yadav to direct the builder to pay rent and shifting charges to the affected residents.
"We are examining it and will be submitting a written reply in a few days," Yadav said.
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