GreNo West: FoB at Gaur intersection soon following residents' demand

Following the complaints made by the residents, the Greater Noida Authority has decided to construct a foot overbridge (FoB) at Gaur intersection. The planning department has commenced work in this regard.

Residents of the nearby sectors have been demanding the department concerned for an FoB as they are facing difficulties while crossing the bustling intersection. The construction work related to this foot over bridge is expected to be completed soon.

Why is the need?

Gaur intersection, also known as Kisan Chowk, is one of the major ones in Greater Noida West. Located right in the centre, it connects the road leading to Noida City Centre, the metro line extended from Sector 71 and Surajpur where it separates the road into a service lane behind which there are several residential societies and malls.

Commuters from NH-24, Parthala area, Surajpur, and Cherry County use the roundabout, making it busy and dangerous during daytime and evening.

Talking to City Spidey on this subject, Noida's Sector 74 resident Amit Kumar said, “It becomes really difficult for the walkers, especially aged people while crossing the road, be it during daytime or evening. Besides, lack of a foot overbridge may invite major mishaps at any given day! I tried to know the details about the FoBs which are to be constructed across the area but the authority concerned did not disclose any names.”

Manish Kumar, another resident of Greater Noida West, who demanded an FoB said he through the Integrated Grievances Redress System (IGRS) portal, too asked the GreNo authority to provide details of the areas across the city where FoBs are to be constructed. The authority, in reply, did admit that a total of five foot overbridges have been approved but did not give out the names other than Gaur intersection.

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Candidates woo voters in Dwarka

Candidates from various political parties seem to be making last-minute efforts to woo the residents of cooperative group housing societies in Dwarka.

This past week, not only the candidates, but also representatives of political parties, MLAs, ex-MLAs and councillors interacted with members of resident welfare associations (RWAs) and managements of societies and DDA pockets.

Dwarka comes under the West Delhi Lok Sabha constituency. Pravesh Verma from BJP, Mahabal Mishra from Congress and Balbir Singh Jakhar from Aam Aadmi Party are contesting the seat.

Recently, Swati Verma – wife of BJP’s incumbent MP, Pravesh Verma – also visited a few societies in the area with ex-MLA, Rajesh Gehlot and councillors Kamaljeet Sehrawat and Nitika Sharma to meet the residents.

Congress candidate, Mahabal Mishra, who was the MP from the area in 2009, recently visited Suruchi CGHS in Sector 10 and interacted with voters. The residents said that the key issues raised during these interactions are problems related to sanitation and civic amenities, which need huge improvement in the area.

Hyundai Santro car stolen from La Gratia Mall at Crossings Republik

A silver Hyundai Santro was stolen on Tuesday night while it was parked in front of Easyday store near La Gratia Mall at Crossings Republik in Ghaziabad.

The owner of the car, Krishna Kumar, had parked his vehicle and went into the store to buy some stuffs. He came out after 10-15 minutes only to find that his car was stolen. Kumar filed an FIR at Vijay Nagar police station.

Kumar said, “I went inside the store to buy some stuffs after parking the vehicle. When I came out, my car had disappeared. I immediately went to nearby police station but the response was not prompt. Then, I contacted a senior police official known to me. He advised me to lodge an FIR at Vijay Nagar police station.”

The victim informed that a copy of FIR was given to him on Wednesday morning. He said, “The police station in-charge assured me that necessary actions will be taken.”

Kumar said that he himself checked the CCTV footage available at the store and found that a person entered his car and took it away towards the nearby village. He said, “The footage was not very clear due to long distance and poor quality of camera but the car was clearly identifiable.”

The police have registered a complaint under Section 379 (Punishment for theft).

Salary delay issue: Shipra Neo guards stage protest, get termination notice

When the whole world celebrated Labour Day on May 1st, the security guards of Shipra Neo, a high-rise in Indirapuram, were fired from their jobs on Wednesday following their protest against the developer for holding their salary for more than two months.

The aggrieved guards told City Spidey they were not paid their salary for the month of February and March, claiming this had happened in the past too.

 

“We had faced such situations at least 4 times in the last one year,” security guards further added.

“We have been patient till now but it has crossed our level of tolerance. We are left with no option than being vocal about our ordeal and protest in public,” said a 30-year-old security guard on the condition of anonymity.

A married lady guard, who was present during the protest, said that due to such delays, it becomes really difficuly to run the house. I have two kids and in such situations, I am forced to borrow money from others to pay their school fees and manage other household needs.

While the demonstration was going on, a representative of Shipra Estate Limited threatened them of dire consequences if they don't discontinue their protest, the guards claimed. Soon after, they received a notice of their termination.

It is important to note that no notice was issued to these guards before termination whereas as per rules, it is mandatory for the management of a society to issue a notice period of 30 days.

Residents also extended their support to the guards in their protest over the delay in salary.

“It is shameful they have to face this thing on Labour Day,” commented Preeti Shukla, resident of the society who backed the security guards in their protest.

“The way they have been treated is totally inhumane.” said 73-year-old resident, DP Sharma.

The physical presence of the residents favouring these guards purportedly irked the developer. As a result, the services of the incumbent security agency got terminated too.

It is also assumed the decision has been taken keeping in view the hiring of new agency, which will commence its services from May 5.

“The current agency, security guards will receive their salary today,” informed Sandeep Gehlot, vice president of the AOA of Shipra Neo.

Poor state of affairs!

Besides the delay in salary, the troubled security guards told City Spidey in detail the issues that have been bothering them for the past several years.

Firstly, they are forced to do a general duty of 12 hours. Sometimes, this used to get extended to 36 hours for which they have not been paid any extra amount. Besides, they are deprived of paid leaves.

“Our salary get deducted even in the case of sick leaves,” a guard said.

Secondly, the management of the society refuses to give them provident fund or ESI.

Thirdly, the guards pointed out the pathetic condition in which they have to work inside the society premises.

“During winters, a batch of 14 guards used to get 20 litres bottle of drinking water. However, after much demand, the management added one more citing summers,” claimed supervisor.

City Spidey tried to contact Jitendra, operation head of Knight Watch Security (the incumbent agency) to take his version on the claims made by security guards. However, he didn't respond to our calls and messages. Shipra Estate Limited (SEL) too was incommunicado.

Ramprastha told to refund 7 homebuyers for delay in delivery of Gurugram project

In a relief for homebuyers who had invested in Ramprastha’s SKYZ project in Gurugram’s Sector 37D, but are still awaiting possession of their flats even after a decade, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) on Wednesday directed the builder to refund the entire amount paid by seven homebuyers along with 12% interest.

The buyers had paid Rs 70-80 lakh for flats in SKYZ project, which is a part of Ramprastha City in Sector 37D, around eight years ago, stated a report published in TOI.

The commission has given builder Ramprastha four weeks to refund the amount, which along with the interest will amount to Rs 1.2 crore each.

The mega project was launched in 2008-09 and the builder had promised to build 6,000 flats in six different projects spread over 450 acres in Sector 37D along Dwarka Expressway. It was promised that three of these projects will be ready for possession by 2012, one by 2014 and the rest of two by 2015. But most of them are not even close to completion.

On behalf of seven buyers, Ramprastha City welfare association had knocked on the commission’s door against the developer asking for refund as the project was delayed by many years.

Pradip Rahi, a resident of Ramprastha City and president of the welfare association, said, “By 2013, we had paid the builder around 90% of the payment under the construction-linked plan. Around 60% of the work was done at that time and it is still the same right now.”

“This is great news for all the seven buyers who believed in people’s power and fought against the injustice,” he said.

In 2013, the buyers had got together and formed the welfare organization, which approached several authorities to intervene in the matter. “We had first approached the commission in 2015 on behalf of 400 buyers but there was no progress in the case for two years and this had made many buyers impatient,” added Rahi.

In 2017, seven buyers of SKYZ project had filed a separate case in NCDRC. “Some of the buyers had approached Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (HRera) also,” said Rahi.

Finally, after two years, the NCDRC on Wednesday passed an order in favour of the buyers. “We had asked for 15% interest, but it was settled for 12%, which we have agreed to,” Rahi said.

A representative of Ramprastha said that they still haven’t received the certified copy of the order so far and will take an appropriate step only after studying it.

Gurugram: Palm Grove Heights AOA takes over society maintenance

After months of struggle, the apartment owners’ association of Palm Grove Heights, a condominium in Gurugram’s Sector 52, finally took over the upkeep responsibilities from the builder, Ardee Infrastructure, on Wednesday.

Earlier last month, the residents had approached Gurugram senior town planner (STP) asking them to intervene in the matter. The STP had issued a directive on March 20 asking the builder to handover maintenance responsibilities to the RWA immediately.

The residents had complained that even after two years of receiving the occupation certificate, the developer wasn’t willing to hand over maintenance responsibilities to the AOA.

Speaking to City Spidey, Naresh Khushalani, president of the AOA, said, “Till last minute we weren’t sure that the handover will take place but now that it has become a reality, all the residents are extremely happy. Though we are yet to receive paperwork from the builder stating details of maintenance transfer, we have already deployed our maintenance agency and started working.”

The core committee of PGHAOA (Palm Grove Heights Apartment Owners’ Association) presently has a team of ten members. About 400 families are already living in the society and as many as 300 of them have already been paying maintenance charges to the RWA, said Khushalani.

Talking about their list of priorities going forward, Khushalani said, “Our biggest challenge is to get things back to normal. For the past one-and-a-half-years, the developer had just charged the residents and done nothing. Everything is a mess right now, from gardening to security to housekeeping. We will take stock of the situation one by one and work towards betterment of the society and residents”

He further added that their next step is to get power and water connections transferred to the AOA. “Both these connections are still under the builder’s name. We will work to get them transferred to the AOA as well.”

I'puram: Resident of Amrapali Village slaps maintenance staff, apologises later

Contrary to the general practice of honouring working class on this day, one video footage has come out in which a resident of Amrapali Village, a high-rise in Nyay Khand 2, can be seen slapping a member working with the maintenance department of the society following an argument over the renovation of his newly-bought flat. The incident took place on Tuesday.

The resident had bought a flat on the 8th floor in April this year. He was forcing the maintenance manager to get the renovation done in his flat by the Apartment Owners' Association (AOA).

"When maintenance manager objected to his demand and clarified that renovation of a resident's property doesn't come under the purview of AOA, the resident became violent and started abusing the manager and later, slapped him," told Maheshwaran Nair, secretary of the RWA of the society.

Later, the staff called the police and the issue was resolved amicably after the resident apologised AOA office-bearers through an apology letter.

I'puram: Residents of Ahinsa Khand II to celebrate 'Bhagidaari Day' on May 5

After successfully hosting and participating in Raahgiri Day on April 7, the residents of Ahinsa Khand II, Indirapuram have decided to celebrate it this Sunday too but naming it as 'Bhagidaari Day' as people associated with Raahgiri event objected for using their logo and the name.

According to the organisers, the event would be hosted by Green Team at Niho Mall between 6:00 and 8:00 am on May 5.

Indirapuram News

A series of activities, including waste management awareness program, a demo on composting at home and a street play on waste segregation, will take place during the monthly event. Besides, residents will take part in fitness activities like Zumba (Zin Preeti) and aerobics (Niti). In addition to these, exciting gifts will be presented to the most energetic participants.

Talking to City Spidey about the name change, Jayati Singh, one of the organisers of the event said, “Bhagidaari means participation and pahal means initiative. Residents across the area took initiative and made the event successful by participating in it. Hence, we finalised this name. The Main motto is to get maximum participation in our mission – Clean, Green and Safe surrounding.”

Manisha Singh, another organiser of the event said, “There is an urgent need to tackle the issues related to waste as we are running out of landfill sites. The need of the hour is to recycle and reuse it.”

“During the event, we will try to showcase Khamba compost maker which can be kept in the balconies so that the wet waste, in general, can be disposed of. Modern bins will also be displayed using which people can throw wet and dry waste separately. We are in talks with IPCA in this regard.”

UP DGP directs compliance of seat belts, helmets at GB Nagar, Ghaziabad

The Director General of Uttar Pradesh Police, OP Singh, along with Principal Secretary of Transport Department, Aradhana Shukla, on Tuesday presided a meeting with traffic officials of Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad. They instructed to develop both the districts as model for road safety. 

In the meeting, it was instructed that hundred per cent compliance of seat belts for cars and helmets for two-wheelers will be implemented on the ground.

Shukla said, “We should create an environment for complete road safety in both the districts. She also urged the people to use seat belts and helmets for their safety.”

She said that there is a need to conduct road safety awareness campaigns on large scales in both the districts. “The awareness campaigns can be driven through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) medium. The top district and police officials are required to put special efforts in making this happen on the ground,” she added.

The ways to issue instant challans against violators were also discussed at the meeting. 

Shukla said, “People going for morning walks at various parks do not use seat belts and helmets. As well, parents, going to drop their children at schools, are also found violating the rules. There should be action to dissuade them from doing this.”

The need to make people aware about the importance of using seat belts and helmets was stressed in the meeting. It was said that people should be informed about the dangers which can averted by using seat belts and helmets in case of accidents.

Amrapali case: SC accepts forensic report on home buyers’ ‘siphoned off’ money

While hearing the case pertaining to nearly 42000 home buyers seeking possession of flats in various projects across Noida and Greater Noida for the past several years, the Supreme Court on Tuesday accepted the audit report stating Amrapali Group’s involvement in siphoning off flat owners’ money.

Though the forensic auditors, in their report, informed the court that an approximate of Rs 35000 crore has been diverted by the real estate group, they were unable to give out the details of its whereabouts. In this regard, the apex court directed the Delhi Police to probe the case on the basis of auditors’ report.

Besides, the Supreme Court directed the Amrapali Group to share all the details of its transactions with Indian cricketer MS Dhoni who was brand ambassador for the real estate group between 2009 and 2016. The apex court has asked the said group to comply with its order by May 1 (Wednesday). 

The court’s move comes after Dhoni had sued the real estate firm for not clearing dues of approx Rs 40 crore owed to him. He had accused Amrapali Group for not giving him the possession of a flat he had booked in his hometown, Ranchi. The court had accepted a forensic audit report in connection with the case.

During the day-long hearing, the court also discussed the role Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) and UP Apartment Act. 

The top court will continue its hearing on Amrapali Group issue till May 2 (Thursday).

Labour Day: Read the tale of security guards working in high-rises across Gzb

This might be just another holiday for most of us but think about those who toil every day to meet the daily requirements to run their family. On this Labour Day, City Spidey brings to you a detailed report on the condition of security guards working in over 50 housing societies of Ghaziabad.

As per MET (Indian Meteorological Department) data, Delhi-NCR, in 2018, witnessed the coldest December and January in the last 13 years - temperature plummeted to as low as 3.4 degrees at night.

It also proved to the most harrowing winter for the night security guards. And most societies failed to provide them even with the basic facility of the heater.

“No heater has been provided to us by society management,” said 38-year-old Ramesh Singh, who has been working at Saya Zenith Apartments in Indirapuram for more than three months now, and added, “We pick dry leaves and branches from the trees nearby and light a small fire for ourselves. We had asked for heaters when the winters started but received no reply in this regard from AOA.”

The situation is no different at the neighbouring East End Apartments.

The guards at the gate covered themselves in blankets — which they themselves arranged — to keep warm. “That stops us from shivering — that’s all we can ask for at this point,” pointed out a guard on duty.

A little away at ATS Advantage, the guards at the tower thank a few residents who got them heaters. However, they claimed to receive no help from the society management. “But there is nothing for the guards doing duty at the gates. Although we spend nights in a cabin at the gates, it only provides temporary relief,” said a guard at the main gate.

Moving further towards Amrapali Village, guards were seen warming themselves with coal.

“Although the worst of winter is gone, even if we get heaters now, we will be able to spend the nights more comfortably. Also, it would do good for the guards in the next season,” said a 19-year-old guard Vikas Yadav.

The security agency is run by Sharat Jha, president of Consortium of Societies, Ghaziabad. He has failed to provide heaters to guards at his own society, Rajhans Residency.

While talking to guards, it was found that many societies tend to impose hefty fines on guards if they are found lighting fire or even dozing off.

At Ashiana Upvan, guards claimed that society management has prohibited lighting of the fire, but somehow they manage to do it on bitter winter nights. “We won’t survive this winter otherwise,” a guard said.

But there are problems with lighting a fire.  “Our jackets get frequently dirty with the fumes. We have to wash them thrice a week. As the security agency has not provided us any spare jacket, we are forced to come to duty in a different jacket. If this happens more than once, it attracts a fine because society has allowed us to wear the civil dress only once a week,” a guard said. 

The fine, ridiculously, could be anywhere between Rs 5,000-10,000! That’s their entire salary!

City Spidey found one exception though — Arihant Harmony of Ahinsa Khand II. In the guards’ room, an electric heater had warmed to an orange hue, as a few guards sat huddled around it.  The heater, guards claimed, had been provided by the society management.

Arihant Harmony is the residential address of Alok Kumar, president of Indirapuram-based Federation of Apartments Owners Association, or FedAOA. Kumar said that every winter, AOA of the society distributed blankets and ensured a room heater in the guards’ room.

When City Spidey spoke about the ground conditions, Kumar could only nod his head in disappointment.   “People should extend at least the basic courtesy towards their guards. They want 24-hour security but ignore the basic amenities. Same people would make a hue and cry if not provided facilities at their workplace,” lashed out Kumar.

NBCC gets approvals from authorities for revised offer to acquire JIL

The state-owned National Building Construction Company's (NBCC) on Wednesday received all the required approvals from Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPA) as well as from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs which was needed in order to acquire the Jaypee Infratech.

The NBCC's bid was rejected by the Committee of Creditors (CoC) citing the reason that it was subject to approval from various government authorities on April 26.

 

Sources in the NBCC told City Spidey that, the company has received approvals. He said that NBCC would now send a fresh application to the Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) Anuj Jain to consider its resolution plan and include it for voting.

NBCC’s re-entry in the fray will also depend on National Company Law Tribunal's (NCLT) decision. 

Jaypee Infratech’s lead lender IDBI Bank had on Monday approached the Allahabad bench of  NCLT for seeking extension of insolvency proceedings beyond the May 6 deadline as the process is still underway to find buyers to acquire Jaypee Infratech.

Flat buyers were favouring NBCC to get the approval on its resolution plan. They said that the IRP should now consider the NBCC's resolution plan.

Pramod Kumar, a flat buyer said, “It is a good news for us because NBCC have been our first preference. However, it would be too early to comment on whether their resolution plan will be considered. But we are hopeful that it will now be considered. The flat buyers' association will also request the IRP to involve NBCC.”

NBCC had also requested the Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) to consider its offer of acquiring Jaypee Infratech on merit. They had written a letter to IRP on Monday and asserted that as approvals are expected shortly, it is requested that some time will be given to obtain the necessary approvals before the voting.

Devendra Yadav, another flat buyer said, “After the approvals, the IRP should fix another date for voting. Many have participated in voting process to decide Suraksha Realty's resolution proposal. It is all about providing relief to the home buyers. Hence, if NBCC wants to get into the fray again, then they must be given another opportunity.”

Further, considering that Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) period to end on May 6, the CoC had decided that no more extension of time was possible. The CoC had unanimously decided to put the Suraksha Realty's resolution plan to vote.

Meanwhile, the voting on the bid of Suraksha Realty, which was the only bidder in the fray to acquire Jaypee Infratech, is already in progress.

SDMC starts composting at parks in Dwarka

In their effort to find a solution to the problem of managing horticulture waste, such as dry leaves and plants, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has started composting this waste in several parks in Dwarka.

Compost pits are being constructed in the parks where the green waste will be turned into manure that will be used for the plants in the park.

According to an official of SDMC, the various pits that are being planned are as follows: at park adjacent to Pocket 2 in Sector 6;  at park between Mini Market and Venkateshwar International School in Sector 10; at green belt near nullah in Sector 11; opposite house number 33 in Sector 19, in Amberhai Village; at park near Classic Apartments in Sector 22; at park near New Kanchanjunga Apartments in Sector 23.

Officials of SDMC are meeting members of RWAs and managements of societies in the area and asking them to educate the residents to use these designated places for dumping the horticulture waste. “Many RWAs have been cooperating with us, but there are still some who aren’t following it seriously. We are requesting them to cooperate with us in ensuring proper waste disposal.”

The corporation plans to make more such pits in neighbourhood parks in the area in the future. However, they agreed that it is a very challenging task to dispose horticulture waste using the existing infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the residents seemed excited about the initiative. DC Mathur, general secretary of Sukh Dukh Ke Sathi and a resident of New Kanchenjunga Apartments, said that they had been working to get the attention of corporation and residents on this issue. “Dumping horticulture waste in a dustbin along with other trash is a wrong way of waste disposal. So many residents have been making manure out of their personal waste. Why can’t the corporation do the same?”

JB Kaushik, secretary of Classic Apartments, Sector 22, said, “Coordination is needed among RWAs and corporation to make this system work. We need more such pits and initiatives if we want a better tomorrow.”