Plaster chunks fall off balconies in Gurugram, passers-by have narrow escape

Sumedha Sharma

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Gurugram, July 4

The structural safety of housing societies in Gurugram has become a cause of concern as layers of plaster fell off the roofs/walls in the balconies of flats in two housing societies. The incidents were reported from Paras Dews, Sector 106 and Signature Global Solera, Sector 107.

Issue raised earlier

Despite a lot of hue and cry about structural safety audits and repairs, nothing concrete has been done here. We have been constantly raising the issue but to no avail — Tarun Kumar, RWA president

Onus on builders

The builder needs to immediately look into the matter and the administration needs to ensure our safety. The construction quality of the entire society is questionable. — SS Hooda, a resident

The harried residents have approached the local administration regarding the matter. Some people had a narrow escape when big chunks of plaster fell from the balconies. They contended the structural safety of both the societies was already under scanner and the builders were turning a blind eye to their woes.

“Our society is going the Chintel way. It was last night that a major chunk of the balcony of one of the flats fell on the floor below. The family could have been seriously injured. The builder needs to immediately look into this and the administration needs to ensure our safety. The construction quality of the entire society is questionable,” said resident SS Hooda who moved the Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram seeking help.

Similarly, plaster of at least four units fell in Signature Global Solera society in Sector 107. The residents were walking near the building when huge chunks fell down. This sent residents in a tizzy and they immediately called the police that cordoned off the areas.

“Despite a lot of hue and cry about structural safety audits and repairs, nothing concrete has been done here. We have been constantly raising the issue but to no avail,” said RWA president Tarun Kumar. “We had to call the police and even moved the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP). The builder has transferred the society maintenance to RWA but not the funds so even though there is a dire need of repair, we can’t get it done on our own,” he said.

A special team of DTCP visited Solera Society and after inspection served a show cause notice on the builder Signature Global and asked it to get a safety survey of the affected units done at the earliest.

“A visit to your group housing society in Sector 107 has revealed that plaster fell from the balconies in at least four flats. This is not acceptable on your part. Please explain yourself within the next fifteen days and initiate a survey immediately,” read the orders issued by DTCP Gurugram.

Meanwhile, DC Nishant Yadav has marked an immediate inquiry into the matter and ordered expediting of structural survey of all societies in Gurugram.

“We have taken cognisance of the matter and got builders to take immediate steps to ensure safety at the moment. We have also asked them to expedite the structural safety survey. Action will be initiated against them,” said Yadav.