Resident of an apartment at Pendurti is worried about meeting his water needs in summer much before the onset of the season. While the builder had tried to dig three bore-wells, only one produced water and the other two failed. Added to that, in the vicinity several bore-wells have come up.
He is living in an apartment complex comprising four blocks and none of them is completed. Of 100 units, about 60 have been occupied. Though most of the apartments are learnt to have been sold, painting, fixing of taps and other minor works are going on in them.
“With many borewells in the vicinity, I am worried about how the situation will be in the months ahead, let alone the 24-hour supply promised by the builder,” said the resident who sought anonymity for apparent reasons.
Besides, all the flat-owners have to pay about ₹10000 each, ₹ 5000 towards fee to GVMC and the remaining for other expenses, if the semi-bulk water connection usually given to apartments is to be issued. With number of owners involved and work still going on that is also a time-taking task.
According to GVMC, unless the Occupancy Certificate is obtained for the apartments and the property tax assessment is made and paid, water connection is not given.
It's not an isolated happening though not that all residents of apartments are facing such a problem. A builder who has constructed 250 apartments has been able to sell only 100 of them and a whopping 150 still remain unsold. But he had applied for bulk water connection paying a hefty fee of ₹ 30,000 per KL for 25 KL and advance for six months which is returnable.
But in a smaller "group housing" complex, residents are not so lucky. While seven of the owners are ready to take the water connection, three are not willing in one such complex. “Unless all the owners accept and pay the fee water connection can't be given since it is an undivided property,” explains an official of GVMC.
When apartments are constructed in blocks, it depends upon whether the building plan approval is taken for the entire complex or blocks.
Common practice
It's common practice for builders to obtain phase-wise approval even if the apartment complex comprises several blocks.
“It makes business sense to take up one block after another as the various fee need not be paid at one go for the entire project. The builder also can take up construction of various blocks in course of time as sales improve,” says Peela Koteswara Rao, president of CREDAI, Visakhapatnam chapter.
However, he makes it clear that it is incumbent upon the builder to provide common amenities irrespective of whether the sale is completed or not if the construction (of the block) is over. “For facilitating water supply if builders apply for partial occupancy certificate, it will be issued,” said Chief City Planner of GVMC R.J. Vidyullatha when contacted.
