Get Chintels Paradiso Tower H vacated, DTCP tells builder as IIT report flags flag flaws

GURUGRAM: The department of town and country planning (DTCP) has directed the developer of Chintels Paradiso to get Tower H of the society vacated. Tower H is the fifth and the latest building to
be declared unsafe at the Sector 109 society, where a vertical cave-in at tower D killed two women in February 2022. In a letter to developer Chintels Paradiso on Wednesday, district town planner (enforcement) Manish
Yadav said rapid corrosion of steel reinforcement due to the presence of chlorides turned the structure unsafe for habitation, according to a report by IIT-Delhi. The developer has been directed to get the tower vacated as living there is a threat to the life of residents
in view of the report, Yadav said.

Yadav also quoted the IIT-Delhi report in his letter. “Based on the results, there is rapid and widespread
corrosion of reinforcement almost throughout the structure. ‘This corrosion is due to chlorides that were
mixed into the concrete at the time of its production. The need for frequent repair in the structures, as has
been reported by the residents, also appears to have been caused by the corrosion of steel reinforcement
due to the presence of these chlorides. Poor quality of concrete has also played a role in the rapid
deterioration. Given the high chloride content in the concrete almost throughout the structure, a repair of
these structures for safe usage is not feasible,” the report, which was submitted to the district town
planner’s office last week, said.

The DTP further said tower H should be vacated in the prescribed time limit and the developer would be
responsible for lapses, if any.
Towers B and C, which have been declared safe for now, are likely to be assessed by another agency,
preferably CBRI, which will suggest rehabilitation measures so that the effect of corrosion can be
counterbalanced and the structure saved from any further structural damage.
“If the conclusion of the agency remains the same as that of IIT-Delhi, that the building is safe at present
but is bound to deteriorate due to high chloride content in concrete and it is not technically feasible to
rehabilitate it, then the builder shall do annual structural audits of towers B and C every January through
one of the four empanelled structural audit consultants. This report shall be shared by the builder with the
RWA as well as DTP office,” a senior DTCP official said. In case of an adverse report, the builder shall
compensate the owners in the same way as of other towers declared unsafe.
Meanwhile, a Chintels spokesperson said, “We have just received the IIT report and are open to getting an audit done. We have just sent a letter to CBRI and asked them for a proposal for the same.”