Buddhadeb Bhattacharyya’s ‘dream project’ lies in shambles

The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) gave 390 acre of prime land at Rs 99 crore to Mukherjee.The USE group decided to set up 907 row houses on 84 acre of land along 

with other facilities like a club on 13 acre of land knows as “club 13 acre, a school, hospital and park.

The buyers booked the row houses thinking that the then Chief Minister was behind this. The booking began in 2006 and construction of row houses should have been completed by 2008. The entire 390 acre was scheduled to have been developed by 2010.

 The price of the row houses varied from Rs 21 lakh to Rs 85 lakh depending on their sizes. The buyers have so far paid at least 80 per cent of the money to the builder.

Meanwhile, Mukherjee has received at least Rs 300 crore from the buyers. He got another Rs 150 crore by selling 30 acre of land.

Thus by investing Rs 99 crore he has already received Rs 450 crore at the cost of untold misery to 

the buyers.Out of 907 row houses, the completion certificates (CC) for 508 row houses have been used by KMDA in clusters A and B. In clusters C and D, 399 row houses will be constructed of which CC for 90 row houses have been issued.

More than 300 row houses are yet to be built. After 8 years, the builder could not specify any date when the project would be completed.Professor Mrintunjay Chakraborty, of IIT Kharagpur said “The quality of construction is very poor. How could KMDA give CC without inspecting the other facilities which the firm had assured to provide.”

OP Bangur, who has booked a row house in cluster C is yet to get possession. “I have paid more than 80 per cent of the money and really do not know whether I will get the row house in my lifetime.”

Kamal Roy who has booked a row house is yet to get possession. 

“It is really amazing that USE is quiet about paying penalty to us. The firm charged 18 per cent penalty when we failed to pay the installment on time and should pay us interest at 18 per cent while handing over the row houses.”

Abhay Upadhayay, president of KWIC Buyers’ Welfare Association said the quality of construction was really poor. “The toilet fittings are poor and in many row houses, damps have come up. The builder is not saying a word on the facilities which he is supposed to give us.

“It is unfortunate that despite requests he has refused to meet us. We are absolutely in the dark about when the project will be completed,” said Upadhayay.