Gurugram DM orders evacuation of unsafe towers in Chintels Paradiso housing society

Two women were killed and several others injured when a portion of the sixth-floor of Chintels Paradiso collapsed in February 2022.
| Photo Credit: File Photo

GURUGRAM

District Magistrate of Gurugram and Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority Ajay Kumar on Thursday ordered evacuation of the flat owners in three towers of the Chintels Paradiso group housing society in Sector 109 here after the towers were declared unsafe in the structural audit report.

The residents’ welfare association (RWA) of the housing society, however, said the order was invoked without proper planning.

Issuing directions under Section 163 of the Indian Civil Defence Code and Section 34 of the Disaster Management Act, Mr. Kumar said the Central Building Research Institute in its investigation report has declared towers A, B and C of the group housing society unsafe for living. Based on the report, the District Magistrate has directed immediate evacuation of the residents concerned to prevent danger to human life, health and safety, said the order.

Two women were killed and several others were injured when the floor of a sixth-floor apartment of the 18-storey tower at the group housing society collapsed in February 2022. The debris had fallen right through the subsequent floors to the first floor of the building, trapping four members of two families staying on the first and second floors.

Six of the nine towers have already been evacuated since.

The order said the residents will have to vacate their respective premises within a fortnight and hand over the vacant possession of the same to M/s Chintels India Private. District Town Planner (Enforcement) has been appointed as the nodal officer and duty Magistrate to monitor the orders.

Legal action would be initiated against those not adhering to the directions, said the order.

Raising objection to the order, the group housing society’s RWA, in a press statement, said “We strongly condemn the insensitivity of the district administration, particularly DC Gurugram, who has failed to address key concerns before issuing this abrupt order”.

Impossible task

“This sudden evacuation order has come as a shock to residents who now face the impossible task of securing alternate accommodation within just 15 days. The administration’s lack of preparedness and failure to engage with affected homeowners in a structured manner shows a blatant disregard for the well-being of residents,” read the statement.

The RWA demanded immediate halt of the evacuation process until the issues pertaining to rent payment and financial compensation were fully solved, a clear roadmap for reconstruction was presented and a proper rehabilitation arrangements were made for the affected families.

Calls and messages to Mr. Kumar to seek his response went unanswered.