Demonstrating against lack of infrastructure and poor maintenance in their residential area, residents of Sushant Lok Phase-I blocked traffic on Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road here on Wednesday.
The protestersraised slogans against the developer for inadequate infrastructure and poor maintenance of roads and street lights. The residents claimed they had been raising the issue with the developer and the administration over the past seven years, but all their complaints had gone unheeded. “The condition of roads and street light is pathetic. Even the vehicle of the Deputy Commissioner was damaged because of potholes and he has also conceded that the roads are not properly maintained. He had directed the road adjoining Gold Souk to be repaired. There are frequent power cuts and the quality of water is also bad. We have been making complaints for several years. We were forced to block the traffic to get our voices heard,” said Sushant Lok Welfare Association Phase-I assistant general secretary P.K. Bhatia.
Some of the residents claimed that as per the Memorandum of Agreement, they were supposed to pay Re.1 per square yard as maintenance charges, but the developer had hiked it to Rs.2.90 per square yard without any discussion and still the maintenance was poor. They claimed they were being harassed for raising their voice and their electricity and sewage connections were being illegally cut off.
“The maintenance company staff do not even allow us inside the office. Despite complaints to the Senior Town Planner, the Department of Town and Planning, R.K. Singh, no action has been taken so far. We have now decided to hold dharna outside the developer’s office from June 10,” said Mr. Bhatia.
When contacted, Pro Facilities Services Private Limited, General Manager (Facilities) Rohit Puri, which is responsible for maintenance in the area, said: “It is unfair to say the maintenance is not proper. We have been doing our best. Also, almost 40 per cent of the residents do not pay maintenance charges, making it difficult for us to bear all expenses and carry on with the maintenance work.”
