Noida: Sikka buyers demand penalty for delay in delivery of flats

Homebuyers said the though the builder gave possession to around 130 clients, work on the flats is yet to be completed

Aggrieved homebuyers who invested in the Sikka Karmic Greens housing project in Sector 78 demanded penalty for the delay in delivery of flats from the builder at a meeting held in Indira Gandhi Kala Kendra in Sector 6 on Monday.

Noida authority officials at a meeting with builders and homebuyers meeting in Sector 6 on Monday. (Sunil Ghosh/HT PHOTO)

The builder, GS Promoter Private Limited, developed 600 dwelling units in six towers in a housing project in Sector 78. Homebuyers demanded penalty as the builder is yet to finish work all flats in the project.

The builder had launched the project in 2009-10 with a promise to deliver in 2012-13.

“Now, the builder has given possession in name to around 130 buyers. The flats still have a lot of work left to be done. The project has already been delayed by several years. Therefore, the builder has to pay penalty at the rate of ₹5 per square feet as promised in the builder-buyer agreement,” said MC Aggarwal, a homebuyer.

They alleged the builder had promised to deliver all flats on time, but failed.

Read I Two more builders pulled up at Noida homebuyers’ meet

Homebuyers alleged that they kept visiting his office but nobody paid heed to their grievances.

“The builder purchased additional floor area ratio from the Noida authority and kept changing the layout plans, thereby delaying the project. FAR purchase enabled the builder to keep adding more towers to the project and increasing the population density. The Noida authority should take strict action against the builder as he has offered possession without obtaining the occupancy certificate, which is mandatory,” Vijay Sharma, another buyer, said.

The Noida authority warned the builder that in the event of any mishap that brings harm to a homebuyer, he will be held responsible as he offered possession without getting the occupancy certificate.

“The builder has been directed to submit his reply pertaining to all issues in the next 10 days and he will also obtain occupancy certificate soon,” said Saumya Srivastava, deputy chief executive officer of the Noida authority. The authority’s planning department will also inspect the project to check for anomalies, he added.

Gurmeet Singh Sikka, director of GS Promoter Private Limited, said, “We have constructed the buildings as per sanctioned layout plans. We will submit tower-wise completion plans to the Noida authority soon. We will address all issues of the homebuyers.”