RESIDENT SPEAK: Open manholes or deathtraps?

Open manholes on the footpath in Dwarka’s Sector 3, which are mostly either left uncovered or have broken covers, are posing a threat to pedestrians. The residents are worried that these may turn into deathtraps as there is a 10-feet deep drain running below the footpath.

This is a clear case of disaster waiting to happen. Just recently, an eight-year-old girl had died in Indirapuram after falling into an open drain. We are looking at a similar life-threatening situation arising here.

The worrisome part is that most of these manholes are located at the same level as that of footpath, making them extremely dangerous during the night.

There have been many small incidents reported here but the authority doesn’t seem to be bothered.

The stretch starting from Sector 3 police chowki till Batik Ji Partners has many manholes with missing covers. Right in front of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, there is one missing cover posing a threat to pedestrians. Several societies and schools are located on the stretch. I’m extremely worried about the senior citizens and children who take this path frequently.

Let’s hope that this time authorities do something about the issue before any accident happens. Else, we will again witness a pathetic show of blame game.

Legal ownership of flats without OCs possible in GB Nagar

Amid growing complaints regarding possessions of flats given by the developers without obtaining required Occupation Certificates (OC) from concerning authorities in Gautam Budh Nagar, the district administration has come up with a sub-lease agreement process to resolve the issue.

However, the homebuyers called it just a temporary resolution.

Under the agreement of sub-lease, the buyers will have to pay stamp duty as per the existing circle rates even if possession of flats were given without getting OC.

The idea is that even if the occupation of flats were given without following the proper procedure of registration violating UP Apartment Act, the flat owners will be able to pay the full stamp duty as per the existing circle rates.

After this agreement, the buyers will get legal ownership of the flat but they will not be able to sell their flats until the OC is obtained by the developer.

Flat buyers said that even though they will be able to pay full stamp duty of their flats as per this agreement, it won’t be considered as final registration until the developers get OC from the authority.

“It won’t be a relief for flat owners because it would be a temporary registry. They will not get relief until the authority provides OC to the developers,” said Shweta Bharti, a resident of Antariksh Apartment who is also a member of NEFOWA. GB Nagar News

She further added, “Most of the societies do not have OC because of non-payment of authorities’ dues. Many societies are lacking even basic facilities and residents are paying maintenance charges. This whole idea is to collect revenue from the residents. It may be beneficial for developers and the government but not for the flat owners.”

However, as per the report, the administration was of the view that it would be beneficial for builders, flat buyers and for the authorities as well. As per the records in Gautam Budh Nagar district, more than 50,000 flat buyers have got possession of their flats and waiting for registration for many years.

This issue has emerged after some reports that builders were found giving possession of flats without obtaining OC from the authorities.

The flat buyers have also alleged that the government is working like a corporate. The government is giving a clean chit to builders to handover flats without completing even basic facilities in the societies.

“It is government’s clear-cut tactics to maximise its revenue. We opposed this policy because it will not fulfil flat buyers’ requirements. Buyers are already in trouble and the government, instead of giving a permanent solution, is trying to divert attention from core issues,” said Indresh Gupta, another member of NEFOWA.

Gupta also told City Spidey that NEFOWA (Noida Extension Flat Owners Association) will write a letter to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister on this matter.

Man stalks married woman with gifts, bouquets in Noida; arrested

The Noida police on Thursday arrested a 26-year-old man from Sector 11 for allegedly sending bouquets and gifts to a married woman. The accused was headed to the woman’s house with a bouquet in his hands when the police arrested him.

In her complaint, the woman has alleged that the accused had been sending her gifts and bouquets for the past five months. She had filed a case against the accused in September, 2018 at Sector 24 police station.

Noida News

The accused, Aditya Jaiswal (26), work in a software company in Jaipur as a software engineer. Aditya was blackmailing the woman and had even threatened to defame her family, said the police.

Pankaj Pant, SHO of Sector 24 police station, said that before her marriage, the woman worked as a software engineer in a Jaipur-based company where she had met Aditya. “They become good friends, but after a year the woman got married. For the past one year, she has been living with her husband in Sector 11, Noida.”

Aditya kept asking the woman to meet him even after her marriage but she refused and told him not to call her. He kept on calling her because of which she even changed her mobile number,” Pant said.

“He later started sending her bouquets and gifts every week. The harassed woman finally told her husband about the matter who asked her to lodge a complaint. A case was registered four months ago,” SHO explained.

The police said that even after the case was registered, the accused continued sending her gifts and bouquets. The accused was going to the woman’s house on Thursday with a bouquet when the police arrested him on a tip-off from an informer.

Dwarka: Metro View Apartments accuses SDMC of incomplete work inside society

The Residents Welfare Association (RWA) of Metro View Apartments is demanding from the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to complete the repairing of roadside and drain inside the society in Dwarka.

The repairing is due alongside the flat numbers 489 to 593. The president of the RWA, Vinod Rawat informed that the work was done on only one side of the flats. He stressed that work should have been done on both sides.

“When you look at the stretch, you will find that the work was done on the only side. These flats have two faces. Hence, there are two roads. One side has been left unrepaired,” said the president of RWA, Vinod Rawat.

Rawat shared the detailed copy of the allotted work to City Spidey. He alleged that the expense of the work was not more than one lakh rupees. According to the copy of the letter, the work was allotted in August 2018 and it was to be completed in two months.

“The expenditure of the work would not be more than one lakh rupees. Now, I want to ask, where the rest of the amount gone? I have asked the subject to the SDMC people and also requested for the completion of work but they did not take any concern,” alleged Rawat.

According to the copy of the allotment of tender, the total budget for the work was Rs 7,92,402. Now, RWA is demanding the audit of the work and the money spent on it.

People of the society said that the SDMC had not done justice to the work which was under its jurisdiction. SK Singh, a resident said, “SDMC should look into the matter. The incomplete work must be completed.”

On the subject, Mayor of SDMC, Narendra Chawla said that he would take the subject into concern and do the needful.

3 back-to-back gold chain snatching incidents shock Crossings Republik

Crossings Republik, on Wednesday, witnessed a series of chain snatching incidents that occurred in a span of half an hour at different places. All the incidents happened between 1 pm and 1:30 pm.

The first incident occurred at Proview Laboni. The victim was waiting on the main gate of the society to pick up her children from the school bus. Bike-borne miscreants approached her and pulled her gold chain. Before she could resist, they ran away with the chain.

FIR has been registered at Vijayanagar police station.

In the second incident, the miscreants targeted a woman who was waiting for a cab on the main gate of Prateek The Royal Cliff society. She was not a resident and was visiting a friend.

Barely a few minutes apart, a third incident was reported when a woman, who is a resident of Panchsheel Wellington society, was attacked while she was walking towards her home on the Golf Course Road. She was also heading home after picking up her kid from school bus. The miscreants ran away with her gold chain.

The back-to-back incidents reported in broad daylight have left the residents worried. “Three crimes within thirty minutes show the fearlessness of miscreants and puts a big question mark on policing in the area,” said Ujjawal Mishra, president of the AOA of Proview Laboni.

Meanwhile, the in-charge of police outpost of Crossings Republik, Kavish Malik, is on leave since Monday. When asked who is presiding over the outpost in his absence, Malik said no one. “I’m the only sub-inspector in the outpost,” he added.

According to police, same persons are suspected to be involved in the back-to-back chain snatching incidents.

Coming barely a month after two bike-borne assailants had attacked and snatched the gold chain from an elderly woman in broad daylight, these incidents left the residents in a state of shock.

Noida: IT employee hangs self over allegations of sexual misconduct

A 35-year-old man committed suicide at his home in Paramount Floraville, a high rise in Sector 137, Noida, by hanging himself from the ceiling fan. Noida News

In his suicide note addressed to his wife, he wrote that he was forced to take this drastic step after he was suspended from his job in a multinational company following allegations of sexual harassment. He also wrote that the allegations were false, but even if he was proven innocent after the investigation, he would always be treated with suspicion — that he would never get a decent job.

The deceased has been identified as Swaroop Raj. He worked as the assistant vice-president in an IT company in Sector 135, Noida.

“Two female employees had complained to the management against Swaroop over sexual harassment,” the police said.

The official added, “The management had suspended him until investigation was complete, and his laptop was also taken from him. In the suspension letter, the management wrote that he was not to participate in any work of the company until investigation was complete. So, Raj was mentally quite disturbed.”

The body has been handed over to his family after autopsy and no case has been filed in the matter yet.

Munish Saxena, SHO of Surajpur Police Station, confirmed that the deceased committed suicide around 9 pm on Tuesday.

His wife, Kirti, works in a Noida-based private company, and comes home around 11 pm from work. She immediately informed the police of the suicide.

TALKING POINT: Home buyers of Paramount at receiving end due to insolvency

The insolvency declaration of Paramount Prop Built Ltd by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) is affecting the home buyers in a big way. Now, all the construction works at various projects have been halted and this has caused trauma to the people.

The home buyers are affected as handing over of the flats and registrations have also been halted. They are now agitated with the development and intrigued about the prospect of getting their flats. 

The home buyers who have already got the possession are also facing the problems. Now, the maintenance activities have suffered due to non-payment by the developer.

City Spidey had an extensive discussion with a home buyer over the issue.

Dwarka: What happens when a T-point turns into a chowk!

Here’s irony! The newly erected signals at the T-point of Sector 12 and 18 seem to have become a source of chaos instead of smooth traffic!

The signals have been erected just in front of Sri Venkteshwar International School in Sector 18. The signal point is now a chowk, since a service lane from the side of the school has been opened up. The main gate of the school in the nearest point to the signal.

Vehicles in the service lane can now move both sides, making the situation risky for commuters.

VK Singh, a resident of Kargil Apartments in Sector 18, said, “The signals have made this point risky. Earlier people were conscious about fast-moving cars on the main road —now they look at the signals. But in case of any red light jumps, things go out of control.”

In the original plan, the chowk was a T-point, with no opening from the side of the school. But, with the opening of the service lane, the T-point became a chowk. But the whole service lane is jam-packed with parked vehicles, making the situation worse.

Seema Gupta, a resident of Sector 12, said, “It’s a blunder! The service lane can’t directly open into the chowk. Also, service lane has two-way traffic, creating more chaos.”

City Spidey visited the area and found vehicles both exiting and entering the service lane, creating risk of collision. Moreover, the service lane has a lot of parked vehicles, making movement difficult.

Five societies in Dwarka join forces to create impact

It takes collective will to bring about change, and five societies of Dwarka have taken it upon themselves to show what can be achieved if like-minded people joined hands. Sea Show Apartments, Kohinoor Apartments, Arvind Apartments, Railway Line Staff CGHS and Krishna Garden — all in Sector 19B — are carrying out cleaning drives, sapling-planting initiatives and following up with the authorities.

The campaign began last week, and it has already caught the attention of the community.

One of the pioneers of the campaign and a resident of Sea Show Apartments, Himanshu Joshi, recounted the genesis of the initiative. “I was discussing the sanitation of the area with a few of my friends — Tarun Maiti, Rohit Sharma and Varun Dhillon — when we decided to do something. We shared our views with our society management and other like-minded people came forward. We began with our own society, and spread the idea through various WhatsApp groups. We received overwhelming support from most of the residents, especially kids.”

The initiative was conceptualised in August. Now, four more societies have joined forces, and Club 19B was born. The group represents more than 600 families.

Sukhwinder Kaur of Arvind Apartments opined, “We have set an example and we want more people to come forward — to make Dwarka a model city in terms of cleanliness, community participation, greenery and other civic aspects. All this can only be achieved collectively.”

Last weekend, a mass cleaning drive was carried out by the group, in which more than hundred residents participated.

President of Railway Line Staff CGHS, Sunita Ganotra, and her husband, Naresh Kumar —both instrumental to the campaign, admitted, “The journey has just begun, and is not without difficulties. But we will pursue the authorities to act. We are also trying to do something about spots and stretches across the city.”

What about finances?

The members make contributions to carry out activities in a sustainable way. Joshi explained, “We all joined hands and collected Rs 30,000. We will need to think about making this movement self-sustainable. We are working on it.” 

Paramount company’s insolvency declaration halts handing over of flats

Following the insolvency declaration of Paramount Prop Built Ltd by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), the prospect of getting possession of flats for hundreds of buyers has been greatly affected. It has also impacted the registration of flats.

The whole story began with the complaint of a vendor who was supplying the concrete bricks for construction. The vendor had complained to the NCLT against the developer for not clearing his dues. After that, some other vendors approached NCLT with similar kind of grievances. The NCLT had then declared the Paramount real estate company insolvent.

Meanwhile, the home buyers are at the receiving end. After a long wait, they started getting possession of flats but things have now been halted. Noida News

Paramount real estate has four housing projects in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad. More than 10,000 home buyers have invested their money in four projects – Paramount Emotions and Paramount Golf Forest in Greater Noida, Paramount Floor Ville in Noida Extension and Paramount Symphony in Crossings Republik, Ghaziabad.

The NCLT dismissed the authority of the director of the real estate company and appointed its own Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) to look into the matter. “The order triggering corporate insolvency resolution was passed on November 16, 2018, however, the Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) was appointed,” a directive of NCLT issued on this matter read.

The NCLT’s directive further also read, “At present only one class of creditors – the allottees/investors under the real estate project is being considered.”

This legal issue caused panic among flat buyers. Flat registration and different works in buildings such as electricity connection, water connection, and many more were stopped.

The flat buyers, who have already shifted, are forced to survive without basic amenities. Rohit Gupta, a flat buyer said, “Nearly 100 families have been living in Paramount Emotions and nearly 1400 are yet to shift here. We got the possession but flats are incomplete. The security is at the negligible stage. Vendors, who are working on several works like cable connection, whitewash, plumbing, have stopped working.”

Satish Gautam, another flat buyer of Paramount Emotions said, “I had planned to shift into my new flat last week but it could not happen because necessary works in flats are yet to be done. We have no idea when this issue would be resolved and remaining works will be completed.”

Flat buyers told City Spidey that they have no idea when the issue would be resolved and they would get their flats. They alleged that they are trapped and the builder is not doing clear communication.

“If we go to the builder, he would say IRP has stopped development works. He is not an authority now as NCLT has appointed IRP. And, when we go to appointed IRP (Rajesh Parakh), he says, the builder is not cooperating by providing documents required for audit account,” said Chandan Choudhari, another flat buyer.

I’puram: Theft of cash, jewellery reported from flat at Amrapali Village

A theft of cash and jewellery happened inside a flat at Amrapali Village in Indirapuram. The owner of the flat alleged that over Rs 6 lakh in cash and gold jewellery worth Rs 6-7 lakh were taken away.

The case was reported on Monday morning when the owner of the flat returned back after four days. Harsh Tandon had gone to his hometown in Lucknow with his family to attend a wedding on Thursday night.
Indirapuram News
Surprisingly, there was no damage to the main gate of the flat. However, Tandon informed that windows towards the balconies were found opened. Wardrobes and suitcases were found in the opened state as well.

Police have registered an FIR and detained the female house help of the house as a suspect in the case. The interrogation with her is in process.

Tandon also suspects her role in the burglary. “I suspect her involvement as keys of the main door were always kept on a metal hanger on a nearby wall. I suspect that she would have taken an impression of the keys,” he said.

“The flat is on the sixth floor. The possibility of entering into the flat via the balcony is quite low. The thieves must have entered through the door and it is possible only if they have keys of the main door,” a police official said.

The lack of electronic surveillance of the flat is making the investigation difficult for police.

Maheshwaran Nayar, Secretary of the RWA of the society blamed the builder for the lack of electronic surveillance in the society. “Builder had neither provided cameras in the society nor he had given us Interest Free maintenance Fund (IFMS) which we could have utilised to buy them,” he said.

“However, a referendum to buy cameras has been passed in our general body meeting happened this month. We will start installing cameras by January,” he added.

Tandon, who works with an MNC in Noida, lives with his wife and a two-year-old daughter in the flat. They are in utter distress with a huge amount of loss. “I had been collecting cash and gold jewellery for a wedding soon to happen in my family. I don’t know what I would do now,” he said.

Many centers of excellence for different sports in offing at Dwarka

There are ample reasons for athletes and sports lovers to get upbeat in Dwarka. Soon, they will be blessed with centers of excellence for different sports in various sectors.

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Monday announced that advance training will be imparted to athletes as a preparation for Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Olympics Games etc.

Apart from the training, these centers will be having best of facilities related to different sports.

The announcement was done by the Vice Chairman of DDA, Tarun Kapoor in the presence of media during the felicitation ceremony of the sports persons who won medals at Asian Games and are associated with sports complexes of DDA across Delhi.

“We are going to promote sports through these complexes. We expect many world class athletes in the future. This is the reason for developing different center of excellence for different sports,” added Kapoor.

Facilities for different sports such as Wrestling, Judo, Weight Lifting, Boxing, Kabaddi etc. will be there at Sector 8. Facilities for Tennis and Shooting will be there at Sector 19 whereas Football and Hockey will be there at Sector 23.

“At these sports complexes, coaches, international sports persons and other such people would be involved to train the sport parsons so that they could excel at National and International Level. DDA is also earmarking the plots for mini sports complexes to provide recreational facilities for the community,” said Kapoor.

Dwarka: Mount Carmel parents asked to sign online petition supporting school

“Hi, everyone. This is an online petition to get our school recognised. Your signature can get things done. Go to the link, at change.org

Please sign and share with friends and family. 

Note: This is a student initiative only and this petition can be shared with anyone. Every signature has value. Thanks for support”

 This is the message being circulated among the parents of kids studying at Mount Carmel School, Dwarka, which was issued a derecognition notice earlier this month against the fee hike on the complaint of some parents at Directorate of Education (DoE).

The petition, started by a student Madhurima Paul, is being floated on WhatsApp groups and social media. It has so far been signed by over 5,000 people.

Speaking to City Spidey, one of the parents who had signed the petition said, “I hope things get sorted out soon as per the rules. Mt. Carmel is an old school and has done extremely well since its inception.”

The complaint was made against the fee hike for 2016-2017 session in the name of increasing the salary of staff, said sources.

The school administration has also been asking the parents to write e-mails to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia so that DoE could rethink its decision.

“Let’s hope that the situation is resolved amicably because as parents we are worried about the future of our kids. All this is affecting their ability to concentrate on studies,” said another parent who also didn’t want to be named.

Meanwhile, there is a section of parents who feel that such an atmosphere has been created by the school administration and teachers who all want the government to change its decision and are not saying anything on the issue of fee hike and the school’s decision to not pay back the parents. 

Parents say that the school has been asking them to support them from the day the notice was issued. “On the Annual Day, which was held just a few days after the notice was issued, we were all asked to not panic as the matter would be resolved soon.”

According to the director of school, Michele William, the subject has also been taken to the High Court who has sought a reply from DoE.

On the subject, president of Delhi Parents Association, Aparajita Gautam, said, “It is not appropriate for the school to put pressure on the parents to write letters to the chief minister. Every year, schools ignore parents' voices when they arbitrarily hike the fees and now they are seeking help from them. It is a good decision and has given hope to many that the government will take strict measures against schools who break the law.”