Woman accuses builder, officials of foul play

WHEN 81-YEAR-OLD Chandra Dixit signed an agreement with a builder to build a multi-storied complex on her property at Hilton Lane, she had no idea what she had bargained for. The deal, according to her, turned out to be endless negotiations and unfulfilled promises by the builder.

WHEN 81-YEAR-OLD Chandra Dixit signed an agreement with a builder to build a multi-storied complex on her property at Hilton Lane, she had no idea what she had bargained for. The deal, according to her, turned out to be endless negotiations and unfulfilled promises by the builder.

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Having realised that she had been taken for a ride, the octogenarian subsequently called off the deal and got a public notice published in this connection. But to her horror, she discovered that this had no effect on the builder, who, she said, continued with the construction allegedly in connivance with a couple of LDA officials.

The builder, according to her, carried out the construction in gross violation of norms as well as the building plan sanctioned by the LDA. She reported the matter to LDA. “But leave alone taking any action on my complaint, the official in-charge of the enforcement section of the area even refused to show me the files related to my own property,” she said.                      

Her decision to report the matter to the higher-ups in the organisation only made things worse for her.

The enforcement section staff, which had so far turned a blind-eye to the ongoing construction, promptly lodged an FIR with the Hazratganj police naming Dixit for undertaking illegal construction work at her property despite notice to the contrary from the LDA.

“As the owner of the property, all documents like building map etc are in my name and the officials, who are hand-in glove with the erring builder are exploiting this situation to their advantage and harass me in the process,” she lamented. Dixit, who has made several representations/complaints in this regard to the authorities including the LDA Vice-Chairman, urging them to bring the erring builder to book, is still awaiting a response from them.