Non-functional lift delays medical aid to heart patient, dies on way to hospital

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, July 15

Residents of Shourya Greens Apartment, a residential project of Shourya Towers Pvt Ltd (STPL) located in Surya Enclave, are raising serious concerns over the substandard living conditions and alleged negligence of the builder.

They said last night, a senior citizen named Janpal Singh, who lived on the fifth floor of the J2 block, suffered a cardiac arrest. Due to the lift being non-functional, immediate medical assistance couldn’t reach him, and he had to be carried by the hospital staff down the stairs, wrapped in a bedsheet from the fifth floor. However, he died before reaching the hospital. The residents accused the builder and JIT of failing to address their grievances, resulting in loss of life.

Gagandeep Kaur, Janpal Singh’s daughter, revealed that despite their best efforts and calling the security personnel for help, the non-operational lift caused a one-hour delay, leading to her father’s death. She stated that she lives on the eighth floor of the same building. Although two lifts were promised, one has not been installed while the other has been out of order for the last five days.

Paramvir Singh Pathania, president of Shourya Greens Residents Welfare Society, mentioned that since its incorporation in 2006, Shourya Towers has consistently failed to provide the basic amenities promised to its residents. He stated that they have been enduring significant hardships for the past 17 years.

Pathania said an MoU was signed between STPL and JIT, in which STPL was to build and deliver a group housing project comprising 972 dwelling units, a shopping complex, a community hall/clubhouse, etc by 2007. However, many of these facilities either remain incomplete or non-existent.

“STPL owes over Rs 7 crore in delay penalties to JIT. Additionally, they are causing potential revenue losses to the Government of Punjab by not finishing the flats, not obtaining the requisite completion and occupation certificates from JIT and other departments, and thereby not facilitating our sale deed executions. This will result in income for the government in terms of stamp duty payable by the consumers. Despite this, JIT is not taking any action,” Pathania claimed.

The residents also pointed out other anomalies in the project, such as unapproved construction (the company has approval until the sixth floor, but flats have been built up to the ninth floor) and converting parking space into flats. They are demanding a vigilance inquiry into the matter.

Members of the welfare society and affected residents claimed that in addition to lack of amenities and maintenance issues, they have been living in unhygienic conditions, posing significant health risks.

JIT Chairman Jagtar Sanghera said that an investigation would be conducted into the charges relating to the non-functional lift and the builder would be served with a notice, if negligence is found. He also said that numerous notices had been previously issued to the company due to a significant outstanding payment owed to the Trust and for failing to finish the project and obtaining the necessary NOC despite the passage of many years. “Both residents and the builder will be summoned for a meeting to address all concerns,” he added.

Rajesh Chaudhary, a representative of STPL, asserted that the company was not at fault and that efforts to repair the lift were already in progress. He emphasised that a full-time technician is stationed in the society to handle such issues. Chaudhary also mentioned that neither the security personnel, nor the company received any calls from the family or other residents. Otherwise, appropriate assistance would have been provided, he said.

Regarding the lack of basic amenities, Chaudhary stated that the company has been spending an additional Rs 5-6 lakh beyond the maintenance charges collected to ensure proper upkeep and repair work.

No action despite repeated complaints

Residents say that they have reported these issues to the local administration, Vigilance department and senior officials many times, yet no effective measures have been taken. “We demand a thorough investigation into the project’s violations and the builder’s misconduct,” they added.