Anguished residents of DLF Garden City on Old Mahabalipuram Road staged a protest at the DLF office on Poonamallee High Road on Wednesday, alleging that the builder had failed to deliver on many of its promises. Dozens of families, including children, who were carrying placards, joined the protest, demanding civic amenities.
“The builder collected Rs. 1 lakh for Metrowater pipeline connection, when we purchased the flat; but there is no connection yet. We are supplied groundwater that is unfit for drinking. We just get some Metrowater tanker lorries once a day,” alleged Lakshmi Krishnamurthy, a 34-year-old freelance writer, a resident of DLF Garden City since the last two months. She came along with her eight-year-old son S. Arjun, who held a placard.
The lack of poor access roads also was a source of irritation for many protesters. “They assured us of three approach roads to the project site when we booked the house. Now, we are left with poorly-laid roads which deteriorate quickly during the monsoon,” said S. Swaminathan, who had bought his apartment in 2011 and moved in three months ago.
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Mr. Swaminathan is among those who claim that they booked an apartment in DLF hoping their children would get admission in a premier school located on the premises, on a priority basis. “But I had to put up a fight before getting an admission for my son,” he said. Many others also alleged the school had denied admissions to some residents’ children and relented after repeated appeals.
S. Natarajan said that his brother’s daughter had been denied admission in the school. “My brother S. Suresh has booked an apartment, but can’t get an admission for his daughter Vanishka,” he added. Other unfulfilled promises include a club house, a pharmacy and a shopping mall, according to the residents. Later, around 4 p.m., DLF officials held discussions with the residents of the apartments. An official said the residents’ problems would be resolved at the earliest. “We have some legal problems providing Metro Water pipeline connection right now. We hope to sort out all the issues in about ten days’ time,” added the official.