4 years on, Bangalore Development Authority flats yet to get power, water

BENGALURU: Allottees of flats constructed by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) at Gunjur, near Varthur, staged a protest on Friday alleging non-completion of basic works resulting in the apartment lacking amenities like water, toilets and electricity.
According to a letter addressed to CM H D Kumaraswamy from the flat owners, work on constructing the flats began in 2012 and they were allotted to financially and social backward classes in December 2013 through a lottery.Then CM Siddaramaiah had directed officials to complete all works within a year.
The allottes said they began paying their EMIs towards their home loans from April 2013. “However, till date, work has not been completed. There is no electricity connection, water supply and a sewage treatment plant,” they said.
According to the owners, there are around 900 flats and 600 allottees have already registered their properties, while many have taken possession certificates and are paying property tax though they don’t live there.
“I paid Rs 20.2 lakh for a 2-BHK falt and for four years I have been paying Rs 13,000 as EMI. But as work hasn’t been completed, I am living in a rented house paying Rs 10,000 a month, which is a huge burden on me,” garment factory employee Narayana Shetty said.
Janardhan, who works as an engineer in an electric firm, said he bought the flat from BDA thinking he’d not be taken for a ride. “I think the BDA chief is not aware of the ground realities and officials are not keeping him in the loop,” he said.
BDA commissioner Rakesh Singh said he would visit the site soon. “I will definitely set a deadline and ensure the apartment sees occupancy soon,” he said.