Chintels residents ‘not satisfied’ with rent compensation, plan to hold protest

The residents of the Chintels Paradiso condominium on Friday informed the department of town and country planning (DTCP) that they were not satisfied with the department’s proposal regarding the shifting of occupants of Towers E,F,G and H. The residents also said that they will hold a protest in a day or two to demand better compensation and involvement in discussions with the developer.

Rakesh Hooda, president, Chintels Paradiso residents’ welfare association (RWA), said that instead of asking the occupants to shift outside, the DTCP should follow due process, declare the towers unsafe and cancel their occupancy certificates. “We are also not ready to accept the compensation offered to the flat-owners. All occupants should be duly compensated, whether they are flat-owners or not. We are planning to hold a protest to press for our demands,” he said.

Hooda said that the proposal for residents to shift is not legally binding unless the DTCP cancels the occupancy certificates, which signify legal permission for residents to occupy a flat. Residents also demanded that the developer should not charge maintenance from any of the occupants till the structural audit is completed.

The district administration committee, formed on February 16 to investigate the February 10 incident wherein two residents of the condominium died after multiple ceilings in Tower D collapsed, recommended on March 8 that the occupants of flats in Towers E, F, G and H should shift outside for safety reasons. The committee also directed the builder to pay advance monthly rent between ₹25,000 and ₹37,000 for 11 months as well as one-time shifting charges to the flat-owners. Around 100 families, half of them owners, have already left the condominium since the incident.

RS Bhath, district town planner (enforcement) said that it has been decided due to safety reasons that these towers should be vacated. “The rent proposal was made after due deliberation and taking all aspects into consideration. If the residents have some issues with the proposal, then discussions will be held and the matter sorted out,” he said. Meanwhile, a spokesperson of Chintels said on Friday that the developer will pay the residents rent only if they relocate, “When the IIT structural audit is completed, it will be determined if the project is safe. If the residents relocate, we will pay their rents. We do not want any risk to them in case the structure is not safe and so we feel they should relocate.”