Days after tower declared dangerous, Rs 1.64 crore pledged by flat owners to save 14-storey Paradise Heights

Residents of 14-storey Paradise Heights have less than a month’s time to conduct the structural audit

Ten days after one of Thane’s oldest high-rises, Paradise Heights, was declared dangerous by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), residents last week appointed an auditor to conduct a structural audit of the building. Recently the civic body had given the residents a month to conduct the audit, but the building committee expressed its inability to do so as many homeowners had not paid the maintenance fee. But last Thursday, the flat owners held a meeting and agreed to pay the dues.

As per the discussions, flat owners in floors one to four (having four units each) will now pay Rs 3 lakh each; owners of duplexes located between floors five and nine will contribute Rs 5 lakh each; and the two penthouse owners will pay Rs 8 lakh – for a grand total of Rs 1.64 crore. Some contribution will also be taken from the commercial establishments in the basement, but the amount has not been decided yet.

“In the meeting, two major decisions were taken. One, that the repairs are to be undertaken as soon as possible, and second, that every member will have to give their share of funds within the stipulated time,” said Jitu Thakkar, whose mother owns a flat in the building, and who attended the meeting. He added that an auditor visited the building this weekend and his report was expected soon.

Many members of the building’s management have resigned. Appointment of new members was also discussed at the meeting.

Former president Shashi Agarwal said even while the discussions were going on, some residents were trying to stall the entire proceedings. “They said that the amounts being asked were big and they would need more than a month to collect the money. We had to tell them that we only have one month otherwise the TMC might evacuate us,” she said.

Other members suggested approaching the TMC and asking for some more time for carrying out the repairs.

Another resident, Sunil Thatte, said that a rough estimate of Rs 1.5 crore had been drawn up as the required budget for the auditor’s fee and the repairs. “All this will have to be done, or at least started, within the month of July. But since we will also need to float tenders and select contractors for the repair work, we might have to ask for some time from TMC,” he said.

ATMC official who did not wish to be named said that the corporation would not mind giving some time for the repairs if some work was started before the end of the month.