FAR Construction at R. D. Apartments Dwarka: Legal or Illegal?
By Rakesh Raman
As the extended construction activity under the government’s ambiguous FAR (floor area ratio) scheme has become a pain in the neck for people living in Delhi’s group housing societies, they are experiencing a torrid time dealing with the corrupt managing committees (MCs) that are carrying out such construction projects.
Of late, the residents of R. D. Apartments in Dwarka complained that an illegal FAR construction work has started in their building. The construction work is not only spreading lethal dust and noise pollution, but it has also caused serious accidents.
The residents told RMN News Service that they have been urging the MC of the Society to stop the construction work as it is illegal and can be damaging for the people – men, women, children, including senior citizens – living in building. But, according to them, the MC of R. D. Apartments has ignored their requests.
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[ Corruption Case: Legal Dragnet Targets DPS Housing Society in Dwarka ]
In order to get MC’s version before writing my follow-up article and taking the matter to the concerned government departments and law-enforcement agencies, I wrote the following email. However, there is no response from the MC.
I will, therefore, soon write my follow-up story with the facts obtained from the residents who are opposing FAR construction at R. D. Apartments.
My email to MC:
To
The President / Secretary
R. D. Apartments, Plot 20, Sector 6
Dwarka, New Delhi – 110075
August 6, 2017
Subject: Construction at R. D. Apartments
Dear Sir / Madam,
Please let me introduce myself as a government’s National award-winning journalist. Besides working at senior editorial positions with India’s leading media companies, I had been writing an edit-page column for The Financial Express newspaper. Nowadays, I am running my own global news services on different subjects.
I am writing you this email as some residents of your housing society have informed me that there is some illegal construction activity happening in your building, which you have started under some FAR rules.
I was informed earlier also on July 31 by the residents of your society that the construction activity has caused some damage which can be risky for the people living in the building. After confirming the facts from the concerned people, I wrote the following story on my news site:
[ Extended FAR Construction Causes Gas Pipeline Breakage in Dwarka ]
Link: http://www.ramanmedianetwork.com/extended-far-construction-causes-gas-pipeline-breakage-in-dwarka/
Subsequently, on August 1, 2017, I received a phone call about the above story from a person who introduced himself as Rajeev Lochan and told me he is part of the team carrying out FAR construction at R. D. Apartments. He objected to my story and even threatened to sue me in the court for my editorial work.
Mr. Lochan also told me that people in your society who support FAR construction are quite agitated about my article stated above, and he will send me a formal rejoinder on my email. However, I have not yet received any rejoinder from Mr. Lochan or your society.
As I am planning to write a follow-up story on the construction work at R. D. Apartments, can you please let me know about all the approvals that you have taken from various government departments / authorities (or even private agencies) to carry out the FAR-based construction work? In other words, I need to see all the official documents which certify that the FAR construction work that you have started is legally permitted.
I also suggest you to upload all these approval documents related to FAR-based construction in your society on the society’s official website, which according to the notification from the Registrar Cooperative Societies (RCS), is mandatory / compulsory for each housing society. The RCS notification about the website is attached with this email for your ready reference.
Would appreciate an early response from your side – preferably by Tuesday, August 8, 2017.
Please note that since I have to work round-the-clock, I mostly keep my mobile phone switched off to avoid disturbance. So, you may please communicate with me on this email.
By Rakesh Raman, who is a government’s National award-winning journalist. He had been associated with the United Nations (UN) through United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as a digital media expert to help businesses use technology for brand marketing and business development. He also runs a free school for deserving children under his NGO – RMN Foundation.
