Gurugram: Standoff between JMD Gardens' residents & builder intensifies

Gurugram: Standoff between JMD Gardens’ residents & builder intensifies

GURUGRAM: For the past one week, several residents of JMD Gardens have been camping in the cold at the front gate. This, they say, is part of a 24/7 vigil. The builder, they allege, has posted about 20-25 people, including bouncers and security guards, outside the main entrance. The residents, wary they could create nuisance, have been taking turns to keep an eye on ‘unwanted’ entry.

On Sunday, the standoff between the two sides intensified, with the residents filing a complaint at Sadar police station against the builder claiming potential threat of forced entry into their society. The developer, on its part, alleged that the residents had roughed up their security personnel last week, following which it had complained to the assistant commissioner of police.

Residents of the society, which is situated on Sohna Road, have been at loggerheads with the developer for a while now. After numerous complaints of safety concerns and poor facilities poured in, the department of town and country planning (DTCP) had on December 19 directed JMD Group to hand over the maintenance to the residents’ welfare association (RWA).

While the residents took over the society’s management a week ago, the builder has not shown any intention of complying with the DTCP order, said RWA president Raj Kumar.

“We have been demanding a handover of the society for the past two years. On Saturday, a few residents received an email from JMD Group raising questions about the takeover of management by the RWA and the legality of the DTCP order,” said Kumar.

“We have every reason to believe that the builder may try to send some miscreants into our complex and indulge in violent and unlawful activities,” he added.

Dinesh Yadav, SHO, Sadar police station, said, “I am aware of the matter and will look into the residents’ complaint. All necessary action will be taken if it is required.”

RWA joint secretary Arun Ambar said the residents were continuously manning the gate. “We are completely fed up with management by the builders, and they are holding on to it illegally. They are being arbitrary and have no contract of maintenance since it expired long ago,” he added.

At present, about 2,000 people are staying in the society that has more than 600 flats. Residents claimed even after completing the project, the builder did not hand over the society for 10 years. “There was no maintenance at all. There were several issues, including security, frequent lift malfunction, poor upkeep and continuous seepage in the basement, but the builder did not pay heed to our concerns despite multiple complaints. Even after DTCP has permitted the RWA to take over, we are being harassed. The builder is holding our deposits of interest-free maintenance security (IFMS) funds amounting around Rs 11 crore,” said Ashish Jain, a resident.

R K Badalia, facility manager, JMD Gardens, said the RWA had filed a complaint against the group with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission seeking handing over of maintenance. “The matter is sub judice and listed for final arguments on January 13, 2021,” he added.

Badalia further claimed that on December 21, the RWA had “forcefully taken over maintenance by beating and threatening security personnel without following the due process of law”. A complaint in this regard, he added, was submitted with the ACP.