30% of sale money for upkeep of flats............Builders Asked Open Separate Accounts Which Will Be Monitored

[s1joshi]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city ... 933497.cms

CHANDIGARH: In a move that brings relief to thousands of allottees in Gurgaon, the department of town and country planning has asked all builders to deposit 30% of the total proceeds from the sale of units towards maintenance and development by opening a separate account.

Sources said that this decision was taken after several complaints were lodged by occupants and allottees of colonies developed by private builders across the state, specially from Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonipat and Palwal.

This is in addition to instructions issued to colonizers in which the department has asked them to submit an annual report stating the detailed accounts of allottees of the units carved out by them.

Sources said there are around 1.75 lakh allottees in 320 private colonies and housing societies developed by private builders in Gurgaon. The number of such allottees in Faridabad, Panchkula, Sonipat, Palwal and other cities — where private developers have built residential and commercial properties — is very less compared to Gurgaon.

"We shall simply monitor the credit and debit transactions of these accounts. That is allottee's money to be spent on development of colony. And so far as submission of yearly statements of account details of allottees is concerned, this is being done in accordance of legal provisions, which were amended in April," said DTCP director general T C Gupta.

Submission of yearly statements shall give a clear picture of the details such as allotment, terms and conditions and current status of accounts of allottees. "Audit teams from our department shall tally the details. Default on the account by colonizers shall invite an action," Gupta added.

This move has evoked sharp reaction from representatives of residents bodies. "Both the decisions, including the one about audit of account, have been a long overdue. There are thousands of such allottees who are making trips to the offices of builders to know about their status of accounts. Now, this can be done in the office of district town planner," said Col (retd) Sarvdaman Oberoi, treasurer of Mission Gurgaon Development ( MGD), an umbrella body comprising representatives of residents welfare associations.

He added that though the allottees have to bear the burden of opening a special account, the move was in the larger interest of the people.

There are around 1.75 lakh allottees in 320 private colonies and housing societies developed by private builders in Gurgaon.