Gurugram: DTCP asks for Ocean Seven Buildtech's reply in a week over delayed project

Gurugram: DTCP asks for Ocean Seven Buildtech’s reply in a week over delayed project

GURUGRAM: The department of town and country planning (DTCP) has served a show-cause notice to Ocean Seven Buildtech (OSB) for not completing an affordable housing project and its internal development work in four years.

In the notice, the department has directed the builder to furnish a reply within seven days, failing which action will be taken against him.

Launched in October 2016, the project spread across 7.5 acres in Gurgaon’s Sector 109 has over 1,000 units — each in the range of Rs 14 to 26 lakh. The developer had initially promised possession in May 2021 but the construction stopped around 18 months back.

In the notice, the department observed that the builder failed to complete the internal development work and construction of community buildings within four years and the pace of construction is not in accordance with the norms.

According to the homebuyers, since the project’s launch in 2016, only 50% of the work has been completed. The units were initially supposed to be ready by May this year, but the deadline was extended to November 2021 and further extended to June 2022.

Recently, representatives of the developer met around 150 homebuyers of the project at the construction site but irked them by further extending the deadline.

As per the notice, the builder failed to complete the internal development work within 4 years of the grant of license. It also failed to construct all community buildings within the time specified by the DTCP from the date of grant of license.

The notice also pulled up the developer for the slow pace of construction, which failed the sale agreement done with the buyers of the flat. “The builder also failed to abide by the parameters of the departmental policy for affordable housing. The license was valid up to June 2021 and the developer has not applied/ obtained the occupation certificate nor got the license renewed,” said the district town planner (enforcement) RS Batth.

He further said that as per Section 10(1) of Act No. 8 of 1975, “any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder or any of the conditions of a licence granted under Section 3 shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine”.

A homebuyer said “It’s been almost four years but hardly 40-50% work has been completed. The developer has taken 90-100% payment from all buyers. We are paying rent as well as instalments for our home loans.”