Rain pits defunct, town planner seeks action against developer

Gurgaon: The department of town and country planning has written to its director general recommending not to renew the licence of any current and future projects of Countrywide Promoters Pvt Ltd, as well as the registration of an FIR against the developer for non-compliance of the conditions of the occupancy certificate.
The letter, sent by the district town planner (planning), comes after conducting an enquiry on the complaint of residents about the absence or non-functioning of rainwater harvesting systems in Sector 70A’s BPTP Astaire Garden. In January 2021, a group of residents filed a complaint on CM Window following which several hearings were convened by DTP (planning) and directions were issued to the developer, but it has not complied with them to date.
Subsequently, in August this year, senior GMDA officials inspected the colony and found that some rainwater harvesting pits are defunct, while others aren’t connected to any master water harvesters.
Spread across 102 acres of land, the township was launched in 2011, while possession began in 2017. At present, around 600 families are living here.
“It is very clear that the developer is not serious about the issues being faced by the residents of the colony… (it is) not complying with the directions issued by government authorities from time to time,” reads the letter, which was sent recently.
“An enquiry has been conducted by the GMDA. Based on their findings, the department has written a letter to the directorate recommending the freezing of approvals, sanctions and renewal of any future or current project of the developer, as it failed to comply with the conditions of occupancy certificate. We are awaiting reply from the headquarters and will take action accordingly,” said Rajesh Kaushik, DTP (planning).
When contacted, Rohit Mohan, senior vice-presidents (marketing), BPTP Ltd said, “All compliances work for the rainwater pits have already been completed.”
Meanwhile, residents refuted the developer’s claims and said no action has been taken so far. In the absence of functional rainwater harvesting systems, their houses get flooded during the rainy season, they said. “The harvesting pits are not functional. It took two years for the authorities to take action on our complaints. There is a lack of enforcement by the authorities concerned,” said Jaswant Rao, the RWA president.