At these Blue Ridge towers, you’re only welcome for 3 hours

NO RELAXATIONS FOR THIS HINJAWADI SOCIETY

Frustrated residents of towers 18, 19 say family, friends or even workers have to be kicked out after tight daily visitation limit; while mgmt claims gram panchayat made these rules, authorities deny promulgating such norms

While the COVID-19 pandemic goes on unabated, relaxations to the lockdown lifestyle have also become a part of life in the ‘new normal’ being experienced by citizens. But even as many restrictions have been lifted, for residents of a posh society in Hinjawadi, a persistent set of stringent rules is causing major frustration. As per a diktat at one of the newer complexes inside the sprawling Blue Ridge Township in the area, outsiders can stay present for only three hours and not a minute more — whether they are family, friends, or any other non-resident.

The township is one of the prime properties of Hinjawadi’s phase 1, housing around 23 towers. The rule in question has been imposed on residents of towers 18 and 19, which have been constructed more recently, and therefore have a different management than the rest of the society. However, society members are vexed and claim this management has allegedly come up with its own rules unilaterally. The announcement was made a week ago, after which a debate has raged between the residents and society management. The former have asked whether the coronavirus infection will cease to spread in the allowed three hours, and pointed out that the rule is illogical.

Another norm being debated at the society is that if anyone had shifted out of the buildings during the lockdown — even if it is just within the city — and wishes to come back to stay, they will have to quarantine themselves for 14 days. This rule also applies for any visitor who intends to stay for over three hours.

Now, residents have lamented that any family members coming from far off areas to visit them have to leave immediately. Those who are moving in or out of the flats say this rule is also impacting the help they need to call from outside for shifting their things or finishing interior design work.

For instance, Aditya S, a resident planning to move into tower 19 next month, shared, “These rules are really strange. We were planning to start painting and design work in our home soon, but now that will progress extremely slowly if the workers have to leave in three hours every day.” Another resident, who identified herself only as Nikita, added, “My brother stays in Kondhwa. When he visits me after commuting such a long distance, he has to leave in just three hours. Furthermore, within our society, there is a disparity between rules followed by our two towers and the rest of the six. Why so?” Speaking on condition of anonymity, a third resident said, “An emergency could arise anytime, wherein a friend or relative may need to say with us for longer. In such a case, why must they be locked in for two weeks? As the society management claims this norm was made by the medical officer deployed to the area, we have called him several times for an explanation, but he has denied any such claims.”

Meanwhile, the society management insists that while residents are questioning them from time to time, they are simply passing on decisions made by the gram panchayat. Society manager for Blue Ridge towers 18 and 19, Dheeraj Rai, explained, “The safety of residents is paramount for us. We have not taken any decisions on our own. We are just following norms laid down by the government and the local gram panchayat. The suggestions in this regard were given to us by Hinjawadi medical officer with the panchayat, Dr Amit Manurae. We have forwarded his message to the residents, and it is not his mistake either. It is simply a few residents who are misleading the rest. We have also given Dr Manurae’s number to residents so that they can directly get in touch with him if there is any issue. We always have their best interests at heart.”

Interestingly, when questioned about declaring such a norm of outsiders not being allowed into any residential complex for more than three hours, Dr Manurae denied any association with the same. He clarified, “I have been assigned duty at a COVID-19 centre and have not made any such suggestions or set such rules. I am not even authorised to do so.”

Similarly, Hinjawadi’s rural development officer, Tulshiram Raikar, echoed, “We have not made any such rules for any society in the area. This might be set up by society members. We are not involved.”