Gurugram: Builder submits bank guarantee, still no power supply in Ansal Esencia
GURUGRAM: Kanika Roy, an IT professional, was excited when she booked her dream home in Ansal Esencia project in Sector 67 in 2012. But even after 11 years, the Roys have not been able to shift to their apartment despite getting the possession in September 2020.
The reason — no new power connection in the society due to the developer’s failure to provide the mandatory electrical infrastructure, according to the 43-year-old.
“We were promised delivery by 2015, and after a delay of five years when we finally got the keys, we could not shift as there’s no electricity connection. Initially we were suffering at the hands of the developer. Now, we are at the mercy of DHBVN,” Roy said.
She is not alone. The contention between the developer and DHBVN over lack of power infrastructure has left more than 300 families in the lurch, who have not yet been able to shift to their dream homes to date.
Last year, DHBVN had reduced the liability towards bank guarantee from Rs 19 crore to Rs 13.47 crore. But of the amount, only Rs 5.42 crore has been deposited by the developer for the external electrical infrastructure along with the handover of a land parcel for the construction of a substation, and installation of 14 transformers.
Spread across 250 acres, the project was launched in 2011. Possession started in 2014 and there are currently around 2,000 families living there.
Sharad Rao, another buyer, said, “I have applied for electricity connection thrice since October 2022, but it has not yet been approved by DHBVN. Despite getting the possession, we have still not been able to shift to the flat due to lack of power infrastructure. I have paid all the taxes and am now paying both the EMI and rent.”
On Thursday, the aggrieved homebuyers met the chief engineer of DHBVN and sought his intervention in releasing the electricity connection for the colony.
Dharmender Tanwar, RWA president of Ansal Esencia, said, “Most of the shortcomings of the power infrastructure has been sorted by the developer after our rigorous efforts, but DHBVN is still not issuing the permanent connection. The residents have been suffering, despite paying all taxes to the government.”
A representative of the developer told TOI, “In November 2021, DHBVN stopped issuing new electricity connections in the township and asked us to build the required infrastructure. We have already deposited Rs 5.42 crore as bank guarantee and a land parcel worth Rs 9 crore to DHBVN. All its directions have been complied with.”
Contacted, PK Chauhan, superintending engineer of DHBVN, said, “The developer had to build the 33 kv substation and other electrical electrification which they did not construct as per sanctioned scheme in 2012. In March 2022, they revised the sanctioned scheme as more area was added and deposited Rs 5.42 crore as bank guarantee.”
“Now the insolvency proceedings are going on against the developer. Though we have encashed the bank guarantee, it is not sufficient to build the substation. Things will be clearer by the end of this month as the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) is likely to release its order,” he added.
