Transfer of Gurgaon colonies: Unlike developers, MCG not to levy maintenance fee on residents

Last year, when discussions about transfer of colonies started, the MCG had decided to charge maintenance fee as well. However, the residents had protested saying they pay property tax to the civic body.

In a big relief for the residents of five licensed private colonies — DLF Phase 1, 2, 3, Sushant Lok Phase 1 and Palam Vihar — the Municipal Corporation Gurugram (MCG) will not charge residents maintenance fee that they have been paying to developers.

The residents of DLF colonies and those in Sushant Lok Phase 1 have, for long, accused the developers being reluctant to meet their basic civic needs. (Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

The civic body is set to take over the maintenance of these colonies from May 15 onwards and has to complete the process by June. The residents of these colonies have been paying maintenance charge to the developers and property tax to the MCG.

Last year, when discussions about transfer of colonies started, the MCG had decided to charge maintenance fee as well. However, the residents had protested saying they pay property tax to the civic body.

“The builders in developed areas will be treated in the same manner as Huda sectors after the takeover by the MCG. The developers will have to bear the maintenance charges for a period of five years over and above normal consumption charges on water supply and sewerage,” V Umashankar, MCG commissioner, said.

He said the principles of maintenance charges from developers are being defined and a detailed assessment of maintenance costs would be done area by area.

Read I Gurgaon: CM Khattar says transfer of private colonies to MCG soon

Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had,on Wednesday, directed the MCG to take over DLF Phase 1, 2, 3, Sushant Lok Phase 1 and Palam Vihar between May 15 and June 30.

For now, the developers are expected to repair all roads in their respective areas before the handover or pay maintenance charges for five years. They are also expected to pay for installing streetlights.

On February 8 last year, the state government had ordered the town and country planning department to transfer five colonies to the MCG within a month. The MCG authorities had that time claimed to be fully ready to take over the colonies, provided the residents of these colonies pay an additional fee for better services.

A provision of a separate account for spending on development of these colonies was also mooted last year. But now fresh modalities for areas of maintenance are being worked out.