Greater Noida West: Even after 2 months of Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) directing Sam India Abhimanyu Housing Private Limited to stop construction work at Palm Olympia Residential Society in Greater Noida West, the construction work of the second phase of the project is still going on.
The HC also verbally asked GNIDA to “stop construction” at Palm Olympia
GNIDA wrote a letter to Sam India on July 31, hours after which the Allahabad High Court, in its order, asked the authority to ensure that the “construction plan” approved for the Palm Olympia project does not change. The HC also verbally asked GNIDA to “stop construction” at Palm Olympia.
Construction as it violates the guidelines of the Uttar Pradesh Apartments Act, 2010
Residents of Palm Olympia moved the high court on July 23, seeking that the builder not be allowed to carry out further construction as it violates the guidelines of the Uttar Pradesh Apartments Act, 2010, and the right to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution. They alleged that the society’s layout was modified without their consent. The high court made the oral observation in response to the residents’ plea.
Leenu Sehgal, General Manager, Planning and Architecture, GNIDA says, “The high court had verbally said that construction work at Palm Olympia should be stopped. It was only verbal communication and the court has not written in the order that construction has to be stopped.“
Sehgal said she was not aware that work was still going on at the project. “We are sending a mobile squad and will ask the builder to stop the work and take necessary action,” she said.
Sachin Garg, Managing Director, Sam India Abhimanyu Housing Pvt Ltd, says, “Whatever is said verbally by the court has no value.“
Sachin Garg continues, “GNIDA had cited the court order and asked us to refrain from carrying out further construction at Palm Olympia… But we have written to the authority, asking where in its order the court says to stop work. The court has not asked us to stop construction. Since then, there has been no response from GNIDA. So, we did not stop work.“
Residents alleged that the society’s layout was revised overnight and construction was started without any consideration or consultation with them.
The resident says, “If the revised layout is implemented, we will have no air and sunlight.”
Another resident says, “The builder then promised us ample open space, a separate sports court and charged extra for flats facing a park. I booked a flat for Rs 35 lakh in 2010. The builder neither returned the money nor built the park.”