Greater Noida to act on buildings without OC

The Greater Noida authority said it has decided to take action

The Greater Noida authority on Friday said that it has decided to take action against builders who have given possession of flats in projects that have not been given an occupancy certificate.

Residents have started living in several buildings, such as Amrapali Sapphire, which do not have occupancy certificate. (Burhaan Kinu/HT File Photo)

The authority’s action will create problems for around 20,000 homebuyers who have shifted to incomplete housing projects in Greater Noida.

The Greater Noida authority move comes a day after residents of AVJ Heights in Sector Zeta-I staged a protest following discontinuation of power supply to the complex.

“We have issued a show-cause notice to AVJ Heights and three other builders who have given possession without obtaining occupancy certificate, which is a mandatory process. We cannot allow buyers to shift to incomplete projects because it may create civic and other problems,” Deepak Agarwal, chief executive officer of the Greater Noida authority, said.

“Nearly 20,000 homebuyers in Greater Noida, including AVJ Heights, had to shift because builders are not completing projects. Buyers are paying home loan instalments and house rent. They suffer for no fault of theirs. Builders and the authority are failing to address this crisis, which is worsening every day,” Indrish Gupta, founder of the Noida Extension flat owners’ welfare association, said.

The authority said that builders who are delaying projects are liable to pay a penalty to buyers. “If a builder is delaying a project, buyers should go to the consumer court for justice. We cannot intervene between builders and buyers. Without executing registry of the flat, buyers should not move into a complex,” Agarwal said.

AVJ Heights and three other complexes do not have clearances from the fire department and also have other problems such as non-functional lifts and other mandatory facilities such as for firefighting.

“Around two years ago, buyers said they wanted to do some fittings in their flats so I had allowed them. Later, they did not vacate the flats and did not even let me continue other works. I do not want buyers to stay in flats because my building is yet to be given an occupancy certificate,” Vijay Jain, chairman and managing director of AVJ Heights complex, said.

Agarwal said, “Without OC, we do not have the responsibility to provide electricity or water connection.”