Delhi Development Authority Orders Demolition of Illegal Flats in Games Village
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has issued a notice to Emaar MGF for the demolition of 17 flats in the upper basement of the Games Village. These flats, deemed illegal by the DDA, were not constructed in accordance with the approved building plan.
DDA Vice-Chairman's Statement
G S Patnaik, the vice-chairman of the DDA, stated that these flats were "illegal and have been sealed as of now." The issue of the illegality of these flats surfaced just before the Commonwealth Games.
Cost and Developer's Response
The total cost of these flats is estimated to be between Rs 30 crore and Rs 40 crore. Emaar MGF submitted an application on April 28, stating their readiness to remove the 17 unauthorized flats in the upper basements. This was done to facilitate the issuance of a completion certificate for the remaining 1,168 flats in 34 towers.
Property Owners' Concerns
Emaar MGF had already sold approximately 450 flats, priced between Rs 2 crore and Rs 5 crore each. The buyers are now urging the developer to hand over the properties. The remaining flats are with the DDA, and no flat can be allotted without a completion certificate.
DDA's Stance
The DDA claims that waterproofing of the basement is still ongoing. They must ensure that the construction of the Village complex is within the ambit of Master Plan-2021 and the unified building bylaws. Only after these checks will the completion certificate be issued.
Safety Concerns
During a recent hearing, DDA representatives stated that these illegal flats are unsafe and unfit for occupancy due to widespread leakage noticed during floods in April/September 2010. Additionally, several service lines of other flats pass along the roofs of the unauthorized flats.
Buyers' Plight
The purchasers of the Emaar flats continue to suffer. They bought these flats as a government project with a time-bound deadline for completion. They were supposed to receive possession by March this year. Many are incurring huge losses, paying 12% annual interest on loans taken from banks.
