News: Gurugram: Aster Court residents protest against increase in maintenace charges-14-12-2020
Residents pointed out that Saffron Infradevelopers had earlier increased the amount to Rs 3.25/sqft from October 1, but after protests reduced it to Rs. 2.80 per sqft.
GURUGRAM: Opposing the hike in Common Area Maintenance (CAM) charges, the residents of Aster Court in Sector 85 staged a symbolic protest on Sunday calling the decision unjustified and arbitrary in nature. They complained that the builder has increased the maintenance charges from Rs 2.50 per sqft to Rs 2.80 per sqft, without having any consultation and approval from the residents.
Residents pointed out that the builder had earlier increased the amount to Rs 3.25/sqft from October 1, but after protests reduced it to Rs. 2.80 per sqft.
Paramvir Bhardwaj, a resident, said, “In September, the maintenance agency M/s Saffron Infradevelopers Pvt. Ltd informed us about the hike in CAM charges from Rs 2.50 per sq ft to Rs 3.25 per sq ft w.e.f October 1. There was no consultation prior with us and the decision of the hike is not justified at all as the quality of services which are being offered to us has not been improved in the slightest.”
After several meetings and complaints, the residents were asked to take over the management of the society if they did not accept the hike. However, the maintenance agency is reluctant to give any written assurance and deadlines for handover to them, they alleged.
The developer refuted the claim by the residents and said that it has reduced the CAM rates to Rs 2.80 per sqft from November 27 and is ready to hand over the management to the elected residents’ body.
“For the past four years, we have not increased the CAM charges. We have already shared the expenditure with them and are ready for any audit,” Sanjay Garg, senior manager, Saffron Infradevelopers Pvt. Ltd.
Residents alleged that when they refused to accept the hike and agreed to pay the CAM at an earlier rate, the maintenance agency curtailed the services, including housekeeping, security, gardening, lifts etc. “Garbage was not being cleared for days causing serious health and hygiene issues in the society. Though there are several Covid-19 cases in the society, no sanitisation is being carried out,” said Savyasanchi Tripathi, another resident.
The residents also pointed out that they have written a letter to the department of town and country planning, but no action has been taken so far. “We have initiated the process of forming the residents welfare association (RWA) but they are completely insincere and not willing to give any written assurance to us. The society has several discrepancies, including basement leakage, defunct STP, club not operational among others which are not being addressed by the developer despite several complaints,” said Amit Kumar, another resident.
