Dera Bassi housing society residents, RWA spar over maintenance charges
Our Correspondent
Dera Bassi, December 16
Silver City Themes, an apartment complex in Dera Bassi, has become a battle ground for residents and the Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA).
The payment of maintenance charges has become a bone of contention among residents, builder and the Residents’ Welfare Association in the housing society.
The residents claimed that they were living in an atmosphere of hostility and hooliganism. They alleged that the current RWA, on the behest of the builder, started levying maintenance charges on a daily basis.
More than 200 residents gathered here in the morning and signed a resolution, demanding the dissolution of the RWA. They also wrote to the PMO, seeking action against the builder.
According to the Apartment Act, an RWA is formed to look into various daily needs of residents and is supposed to be a forum to raise their concerns. However, for over 200 residents of Silver City Themes, the RWA has become a nuisance.
The residents complained that the builder in connivance with the RWA had imposed maintenance charges without any resolution and started collecting Rs 2 on a daily basis without taking the opinion of the families residing in the society. They alleged that these maintenance charges were not distributed evenly as per the flat area.
“Nobody discussed new rates with us. We were just informed about it. The builder and his people should have discussed the matter with us,” alleged Lucy Burgess, a resident.
She further alleged that the residents were forced to pay Rs 650 as electricity back-up charges, which was against the law.
“We have been trying to negotiate the matter with the builder and the RWA but there has not been any response from their side,” said another resident.
Members of the Residents Welfare Association could not be contacted.
Bone of contention
Residents of Silver City Themes claimed that they were living in an atmosphere of hostility and hooliganism. They alleged that the current RWA, on the behest of the builder, started levying maintenance charges on a daily basis. The residents complained that the builder in connivance with the RWA had imposed maintenance charges without seeking their opinion.
