Photo: Prakhar Pandey
Poor maintenance of facilities by builders, their control over common areas such as community centres, the non-delivery of promised power infrastructure, encroachment of green areas, poor connectivity with main sewer lines, and a leaky drainage system were the common refrains in almost all the ‘posh’ condominium societies that were visited by Haryana Public Works Department (PWD) & Public Health Engineering (PHE) Minister Rao Narbir Singh on Sunday. He is also the MLA from Badshahpur, and these residential areas, off and around Sohna Road, are part of his the constituency. Perhaps nudged by the Party High Command, which seems to have turned a little jittery after the Delhi election, the ministers in the Haryana government, particularly those from Gurgaon, have been trying to become more accessible to the people. On Sunday, Singh visited 10 societies, which house thousands of people from his constituency, and listened to their woes. The Minister assured the residents that their problems would be considered on top priority, and directed the retinue of officials accompanying him to fix some of the problems on the spot.
The Uniworld Garden (Sohna Road) RWA told the Minister the following problems being faced by the residents: poor maintenance, lack of streetlighting, poor sanitation, encroachment on the road leading to the complex, and the ongoing mess at and around Subhash Chowk. The residents also complained that the builder has not delivered on many promises, and has still not obtained the Occupation Certificate for the complex. SS Oberoi, a civil activist based in Gurgaon, told the Minister that multiple representations and complaints have been made to the Department of Town and Country Planning (TCP), but it has failed to take any action on the shortcomings of the builder. Responding to the complaints, Rao Narbir Singh directed the DTCP officials to take cognizance of the matter, and also promised that his office will take up the issues with DTCP in Chandigarh and try to get all the problems resolved. After listening to the residents, the Minister opined that the setting up of a Gurgaon Development Authority (GDA) - versus the multiplicity of agencies today - could best help in the better delivery of governance. Importantly, the Minister also promised that he would request the CM to constitute a Special Committee, which would deal exclusively with the issues and problems that have come up in the private developer/builder areas of Gurgaon. He said that the Chief Administrator, HUDA and the Chief Town Planner should be the members of this Committee. The role of this Committee would be to mediate between the private builders and RWAs, and thereupon decide the issues, keeping in view the terms and conditions of the Licence Agreements. Singh assured the residents that the promises made to them would have to be made good by the builders; and illegal commercial activities would be stopped. At Uniworld Garden the residents were also assured that problems relating to the service roads on Sohna Road would be taken up with NHAI.
Moving on to Malibu Towne, the Minister was welcomed by a large number of residents, who appreciated the fact that their representative had come to hear their grievances. Rao Narbir Singh did not disappoint the audience, as he admitted that his electoral victory this time was assured by the high turnout of residents from private sectors and condominiums in Gurgaon. "I have in fact lost in a number of traditional strongholds in this election, but come out a winner in this area, and I am indebted to you for making me win," asserted Singh, much to the delight of the crowd. The Federation of Malibu Towne Residents Associations raised some key points, which included the usage of the community centre and club, which is a part of the common area, for commercial purposes, by the builder. The RWA said that they have approached the Lokayukta, and the Senior Town Planner has confirmed that the club is not a commercial facility, but they have not been able to take control of the facility from the developer. The Malibu Towne RWA further alleged that the developer should be asked to appropriately set up a 66 KVA power sub-station (instead of 33 KVA). The RWA added that the residents would be forced to approach the courts if the promised infrastructure is not delivered soon. The residents also complained of a poor quality of living, with overflowing sewer lines, and excessive noise and air pollution caused by diesel pumpsets. Alka Dalal, a representative of the RWA, also raised the issue of encroachments on green belts and the bad condition of roads. Rao Narbir Singh told the power officials accompanying him to find a solution to the problems being faced by the residents. The officials however pointed out that while HUDA and DHBVN have deposited their share of the funds required, the problem was on the part of the developers – who are now unwilling to spend money for delivering what they had promised to the apartment and plot buyers. When the residents complained to the Minister about such non-seriousness, nay arrogance, on part of the developers, he assured them that the matter would be taken up at the highest quarters in the Haryana government, and a solution would be found.
At Mayfield Garden, the residents gave a detailed account of their problems and told the Minister how all the efforts being made by them to secure roads, sanitation and, most importantly, power, had come to nought, because of the unwillingness of the developers to commit to anything. The residents also said that despite several interventions made by top HUDA, DTCP and government officials, there had been no progress. The major problem, said Dharamvir Yadav, President of Sheetal RWA, was the failure of the developers and the State’s Power department to take ownership of this problem, because of which all the residents are still suffering. The Minister assured the residents that he would set up their delegation’s meeting directly with the Chief Minister. He also directed the accompanying officials to fix whatever problems they could locally, while complex issues would be taken up with the seniors in Chandigarh.
The residents of South City II (off Sohna Road) also raised the issue of the poor condition of roads and lanes in their colony. The RWA also alleged that the sewer line of A1 block was disconnected from the main HUDA line on the pretext of some work, but the same has not been reconnected - causing lots of problems to the residents. A block is suffering from large scale waterlogging, which has still not been handled by the maintenance agency. The RWA also complained that the road emerging from Sohna Road to South City II has been encroached at various places by building material suppliers, which cause lot of problems to the residents. A hospital on the same road has also encroached on the green belts, which is in violation of the rules, and the hospital is also not allowing the construction of a divider – to avoid accidents. The South City II RWA complained about the lack of proper play grounds, non-delivery of the promised community centres (which have been converted into commercial clubs), and the transfer of a religious site meant for the community to a sect. The RWA alleged that land meant for a dispensary has been sold to a hospital, and sites for schools have been sold to private chains. The residents said that the rainwater drainage line has been choked for past several months, and asked the officials to take timely action.
The Nirvana Country RWA, while welcoming the initiative of the Minister to meet the people, said that if the government is serious, then the issues being faced by the people can be resolved in coordination with the authorities. The RWA members said that there are numerous ‘school sites’ that can be used as playgrounds and parking lots, or for setting up small Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). The residents of Central Park (Sohna Road) also hoped that the promises made by the Minister and the new government would help turn a new page in Gurgaon. A majority of the RWAs also complained about the poor quality of maintenance being provided by agencies, which were hand- in-glove (often subsidiaries) with the developers – this, despite charging high maintenance fees. The residents demanded that government agencies like MCG should come forward to provide maintenance in the private builder areas as well. While directing the officials to resolve as many problems of the residents at the local level, Rao Narbir Singh reiterated his view that the setting up of a Gurgaon Development Authority (GDA) is paramount; GDA would act as an overarching body for the maintenance and development of the entire city. Currently, with the multiplicity of agencies, it is hard to get work done, as the accountability is always (conveniently) transferred from one agency to the other, the Minister quipped. The Minister told the officials from different agencies to take the problems of the residents seriously, and try to get them resolved as early as possible. He promised to personally take up the ‘bigger’ issues at the right forums.
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