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Hundreds of residents from the Omaxe housing society in New Chandigarh staged a large-scale protest last weekend, gathering at gate numbers 5 and 6. The demonstration aimed to draw attention to their mounting grievances against the alleged apathy and high-handedness of the housing society's promoter.
Pardeep Gupta, the President of the Omaxe Resident Welfare Association, expressed the residents' frustration, noting that despite sending multiple memorandums to Omaxe, they had received no response. This lack of communication had left them with no choice but to resort to a protest. Gupta warned that if Omaxe continued to ignore their concerns and remained unresponsive, the residents' protest actions would intensify.
Gupta lamented that the perception of Omaxe being a "dreamland" with top-notch facilities was far from the reality on the ground. A particular point of contention was the inadequate power backup system. Despite residents paying substantial sums for assured power backup, the actual capacity of the backup generators was reportedly only around 25%. This shortfall led to sleepless nights, especially during the sweltering summer months. Gupta further alleged that the distribution lines were either subpar or under-capacity, resulting in frequent power outages.
The President of the Resident Welfare Association went on to accuse the private real estate developer of raising power backup charges arbitrarily and without consulting the residents. The charges were hiked from Rs 13.75 to Rs 32, only to be subsequently lowered to Rs 28, all without any engagement with the residents' association. Gupta highlighted that Omaxe functioned as a franchise of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) for power supply, but failed to pass on benefits and subsidies provided to other Punjab residents. This situation prompted the residents to take legal action, filing a case against both PSPCL and Omaxe for directly sourcing electricity from PSPCL in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Beyond power issues, Gupta voiced concerns about various other aspects of the housing society. He claimed that many elevators remained inoperative, the promised club or community centre was inaccessible, and water supply was inadequate during the scorching summer season. The situation was severe enough that water tankers had to be called in to fill residents' water tanks. Gupta emphasized the potential escalation of these problems once more residents moved in, given that a significant percentage of the flats were still vacant.
Moreover, property-related issues had also cropped up. While the residents' properties were registered, the lack of proper mutation had led to potential legal complications in case of property holders' demise. Security problems and inadequate maintenance of streetlights and parks were also cited as grievances by Gupta.
In conclusion, the protest by Omaxe residents in New Chandigarh sheds light on the multitude of issues they face regarding power supply, amenities, property-related matters, and more. Their frustrations have driven them to take direct action against the perceived neglect by the housing society's promoter. As they strive for resolution and improvement in their living conditions, the residents are prepared to escalate their efforts to ensure their voices are heard.
This story was earlier published in ET Realty
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