Living in Peril: VTP Celesta Residents In Pune’s Mohammadwadi Highlight Builder’s Neglect and PMC’s Lapses

Reported by Sumit Singh & Tikam Shekhawat
Mohammadwadi, 13th July 2024: The residents of Celesta Cooperative Housing Society Ltd (VTP Celesta) in Mohammadwadi, Pune, are grappling with a slew of issues attributed to the negligence of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and inadequate infrastructure provided by VTP Realty, the builder.

Located opposite Royal Heritage Mall on NIBM Road, VTP Celesta is a single 13-floor building housing 78 flats, each costing over Rs 1.2 crore, and seven shops. However, the residents have been facing persistent problems since moving in. The residents were to get possession of flats in 2020 but it got delayed due to COVID and they got it in 2022. There are about 300 residents currently living in the society.

Punekar News team as part of the #WakeUpPMC series visited VTP Celesta society and interacted with chairman Rizwan Khan, secretary Farida Rassiwala, residents and committee members Suruchi Dogra, Shweta Mali, Sanjay Dogra, Shabbir and Vijayan Nair.

Speaking to Punekar News, Rizwan Khan, Chairman of Celesta CHS, said, “The possession of the flats was delayed by more than two years, yet the builder has not compensated the residents for the delay. Residents were moved in despite several promised amenities being incomplete. Key facilities like the swimming pool were only completed a year after residents took possession. Essential infrastructure such as solar water heating, rainwater harvesting, and wet waste disposal systems were installed just before the handover, 1.5 years late.”

He further informed, “Despite the lack of amenities, the builder has been charging residents maintenance fees from the day they received the occupancy certificate (OC). Residents allege that VTP Realty used water, electricity, and other resources for construction activities but charged these costs to the residents.

The builder also demanded a year’s advance maintenance charges and imposed exorbitant fees, while blocking the society’s corpus fund. Additionally, the builder did not adhere to the original construction plan, making modifications without the residents’ consent, which residents claim is a violation of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA). When we filed an RTI application with PMC seeking details of the building construction, we were given in writing that the files are missing.”

Flats were sold with the promise that these PMC water tanks (located adjacent to the society) would ensure we would be the first to get water and there would be no scarcity. However, we are still waiting to receive water from them and have to pay about Rs two lakh per month on water tankers, the residents said.

Another resident added, “VTP Realty failed to provision municipal water and sewage treatment plant (STP) facilities for shops, as per PMC regulations. Despite promising to provide water according to PMC’s standard of 150 liters per person per day, residents are charged for all water usage, including that used in construction, leading to high costs.”

The builder promised proper wet waste disposal pits but instead provided a machine that did not meet PMC’s regulations.

The exit ramp design was altered after all units were sold, creating what residents describe as a life-threatening hazard. They are now forced to use a single-entry exit gate, posing a significant safety risk. “The slopes are steep and very dangerous”, the residents said.

In the absence of a proper water drainage system, society residents face extreme difficulties commuting during the rainy season. The entire area in front of the society gets clogged with water, posing life-threatening challenges to everyone, especially children and the elderly.

Residents are demanding immediate action from the PMC to address these issues. They question how the building plan received clearance from the PMC despite these significant shortcomings and safety violations.

“We feel deceived and unsafe,” a resident said. “The builder’s negligence and the PMC’s inaction have put our lives and investments at risk.”

Chairman Khan further added, “Despite receiving the OC in 2022, the PMC only sent the first tax demand in December 2023 (for Rs 36,000), conveniently targeting residents for two years of back taxes after the handover and completely waiving the builder’s responsibilities. Now the tax has become Rs 56,000 for three years. We were taxed for amenities we never received, such as sewage, streetlights, water drainage, better roads, and cleanliness. There is no cleaning or garbage collection by the PMC.”

The residents of VTP Celesta urge the authorities to take swift action to rectify these issues and ensure their safety and well-being.

Punekar News sent a detailed questionnaire to the builder and received this statement from VTP Realty:

“As a responsible developer, we would like to emphasize that Celesta management was officially transferred to the resident committee through a Society Handover last year. Since September 2023, all infrastructure, amenities, and assets have been under the Society’s purview, with full responsibility of day-to-day operations and management. While we are no longer responsible for society’s management, our commitment to our customers’ well-being and the quality of our projects remains unwavering. We haven’t received any direct communication about these issues from the current management committee. If we receive direct communication from the committee regarding these issues, we will look into the matter based on its merits.”

However, the residents said that they have been sending emails (copies available) to the builder since the management was handed over to them by the builder.

Punekar News reached out again to the builder but there was no change in the statement.