A year later, flat owners' trust at nadir

Many of them turn bankrupt since the Moulivakkam building collapse

Those who had booked apartments in the crashed multi-storeyed building, Trust Heights, are still clueless on how to recover their money— File Photo

A year after the 11-storey apartment complex under construction collapsed in Moulivakkam, a western suburb near Porur, families who had invested in the project feel they have been left in the lurch.

The Moulivakkam Trust Heights Affected Flat Buyers Association charged that neither the government nor bankers from whom they had borrowed huge sums were sensitive to their plight.

Many of them turned bankrupt since the building in which they invested their hard earned money collapsed, killing 61 people.

The association’s president Ratna Mishra said: “We pay the equated monthly instalments (EMIs) for a home that we do now own and with no sign of any response from the builders, the government and lending institutions, we bear the huge financial losses and go through severe stress everyday.”    

Those who had booked apartments in the crashed multi-storeyed building, Trust Heights, are still clueless on how to recover the money. They came together on Sunday seeking the State government’s help in getting their money back.

The association comprises 55 of 72 buyers. They were stating down a financial crisis, having invested anywhere between Rs. 35 and Rs. 80 lakh. A year ago, flat buyers received an e-mail from the promoter who assured that all the stakeholders would be adequately compensated once the legal proceedings are over.

But since then, the flat promoters have been arrested and bailed out, but buyers have not received any further communication from the company. “We met officials in different ranks, apart from approaching the judiciary. We have also approached the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in New Delhi,” Ms. Mishra said, who like other investors is hopeful of a favourable response.

Civil Engineers pay homage

Chennai Civil Engineers Association paid homage to the workers killed in the accident at May Day Park in Chintadripet on Sunday. Members lit candles and paid floral tributes.

Secretary of the association, P. Senthilkumar said there should be a separate body to ensure that only qualified and certified engineers are part of such big projects.