We Pay Maintenance for Our Dehradun Flat Without Getting Amenities

Video Editor: Rahul Sanpui
Video Producer: Aastha Gulati
Cameraperson: Rupesh Sharma

Though completed, most of the maintenance work at Dehradun’s ‘Golden Manor’ society is sub-standard. Residents are tired of constant run-ins with the builder. Unfortunately, the problems we face fall on deaf ears.

Three things demand immediate attention. First, maintenance of promised amenities. Second, of illegal construction in the society and third, the haywire usage of electricity meters. There has been no approval for an NOC either, even though the society was advertised as being approved by the development authority.

Only the structure they’ve made is fine. The finishing they’ve done and the materials they’ve used are not up to the mark. We can clearly see the difference between saying and doing here.

“We were promised a place like ‘heaven’. An amphitheatre, children’s park, gardens on the rooftop, swimming pool, and a gym.”

Neena Joshi, Resident 

In fact, they’ve taken charges for the swimming pool and the club, but the pool lies abandoned. There is no facility since we shifted. The club has been left open. The gym equipment lies unattended.

There is seepage all over, that should have been fixed but isn’t. Lack of security also worries us since most of the residents are senior citizens.

“It has been so many years but there isn’t any security agency. The security and housekeeping personnel keep changing. There are new faces everyday.”

Neena Joshi 

The builder is also constructing flats on the terrace.

“The agreement mentions that the terrace is open for all but we got to know later that the builder has illegally constructed over it and sold off those flats. The builder hasn’t gotten an NOC from the fire department. Without an NOC, we cannot insure our flats.”

Vijay Veer, Resident

Exorbitant Rates for Electricity

Our society has prepaid meters installed for all flats. In a prepaid meter, we have to pay beforehand and the electricity and maintenance expenses are included in this pricing.
However, we are being charged arbitrarily. The rates are too high.

For example, people who live in a two-bedroom flat are paying Rs 6,000 for electricity. It can be seen everywhere else that the bill should be not more than Rs 3,500. The bill should have the meter reading but we don’t get that. 

We hope that the builder fulfills the promises he made at the earliest. The builder has been directed by a RERA court to hand over to residents the keys of the meter and was even fined for not obtaining an NOC, but he doesn't comply.

Whichever provisions, even if given by RERA, should be fulfilled and residents should be given operational power.

(The Quint has reached out to the builder but has not received a response from them. The copy will be updated once there is a response.)

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