The frequency of the recent building collapses in Ahmedabad has been nothing short of alarming. Questions are also being raised on delayed redevelopment processes, following the recent collapse of Rameshwar Apartment, a residential society of 312 High-Income Group (HIG) apartments near AEC Crossroads in Naranpura.
The members of the society called out the Gujarat Housing Board (GHB) when the top floor of one of the buildings collapsed on Saturday. The society, claimed reports, were aghast at the GHB’s inaction, going to the extent of saying that the officials were “deliberately” delaying the eviction processes of residents.
“We have spent lakhs towards getting the house repaired. We must have spent more on repairs than the cost of the house at present,” Tara Juneja, whose balcony collapsed, was quoted as saying by a daily. Fortunately, she had vacated the house six years ago.
She added, “Residents have agreed to redevelopment. However, the GHB has not cleared our sale deeds and I have been following the board since 2015 for the same. In the larger interest of residents like us, GHB should clear the issue and begin the redevelopment process.”
The president of Rameshwar Apartment Sandip Trivedi feared that lives were at risk owing to the dilapidated condition of many buildings in the 33-year-old society.
He alluded to a tri-party agreement among Rameshwar Apartment, GHB and A Shridhar Group, which gave residents of the society Rs 20,000 per month rent, including a three-month advance. According to the redevelopment contract, the members of the society have been offered 3BHKs for their 2BHK flats.
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