Two years after announcement, MCG yet to take over maintenance of private colonies

Piyush OhrieGurugram: In April 2016, Haryana Chief Minister Manaohar Lal Khattar had announced that the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) will officially take over the maintenance of private colonies. More than two years after the announcement, the takeover of the colonies still remains uncertain. Confusion over cost of maintenance to be borne by private builders and the transfer of officers in the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) are prolonging the exercise. Even as MCG plans to officially take over the maintenance of private colonies in the coming months, residents in private colonies are still being provided with maintenance bills by private developers. Moreover, in some residential colonies, private developers have also increased the fee for maintenance services.

The increase in the maintenance fee excludes the water charges that are being levied by private builders. Most of the residents in private colonies have been at odds with the developers over the exorbitant cost being charged for maintenance services. The residents have accused the developers of charging an exorbitant sum for maintenance and yet not providing adequate services. Most of the private developers are yet to apply for full completion certificate from the public agencies.

The completion certificate is provided to the developer by the DTCP after they build the infrastructure in their colonies according to the initial plans submitted to the public agency. The MCG had chosen three private consultants that will survey the maintenance works in the private colonies. Even though the report have been submitted, resident bodies have disputed the maintenance amount to be paid by private developers.

Allegations have been levelled against private builders that by not applying for full completion certificate, the private builders are purposely not spending money on improvement of roads, streetlights and cleanliness in their colonies. Facing a civic neglect for years residents of various private colonies have now united in their protests against private builders. Delay in takeover of private colonies by the Corporation along with various legal issues faced by the private builders have resulted in various civic problems in private colonies.