Chintels: DTCP asks occupants of towers E and F to vacate immediately

The department of town and country planning (DTCP) on Wednesday issued a final notice to the occupants of four flats in towers E and F of Chintels Paradiso condominium in Sector 109 after they were found living in these towers, despite the district administration declaring them unsafe and not fit for habitation on the basis of a structural audit report submitted by experts from IIT-Delhi.

DTCP officials said a notice has been issued to occupants of four flats in these two towers to.vacate the premises immediately, else legal action will be initiated against them.

The DTCP called for a structural audit of all towers in Chintels Paradiso after six floors of Tower D collapsed partially on February 10, 2022, killing two women residents. Following the incident, the state government ordered a district administration probe, which led to the administration seeking a structural audit of the entire complex and the government later recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, which is currently under way.Following the structural audit report submitted by IIT-Delhi, the district administration on January 29 this year said Tower D will be demolished.

Towers E and F were also declared unsafe for habitation and occupants were told to vacate their flats. On May 15, the district administration invoked the Section 144 CrPC and Disaster Management Act, 2005, to get occupants of towers E and F to vacate the flats at the earliest; else criminal action will be initiated against them.So far, reports on five of the nine residential towers have been submitted. While towers D,E, F and G have been declared unsafe, Tower A has been deemed safe.

Manish Yadav, district town planner (enforcement), said they have received information that four flats, two each in towers E and F, are still occupied despite beinf served notices. “We have issued a notice again and asked the occupants to vacate the flats immediately, otherwise legal action will be initiated against them,” he said.The order issued by Yadav said,” It is again directed to vacate the flat and the premises of the tower immediately otherwise legal action/proceedings will be initiated as per prevailing Act/law.”

Rakesh Hooda, president, Chintels Paradiso residents’ welfare association, said these four families will vacate the towers within a week. “Their only concern is that the compensation should be expedited but it has been delayed. Also, the decision to cordon off the towers is not humane and it should have been avoided,” he said.