Many Continue To Live In Unsafe, But Affordable Flats For Lack Of Options

Source: Nov 24 2014 : The Times of India (Pune)

                                                                             

Pune:





Many Continue To Live In Unsafe, But Affordable Flats For Lack Of Options

Any creaking sound or a heavy vehicle hurtling down the road has residents of Narhe-Ambegaon drop what they are doing, and stand firmly on the ground hoping it wouldn’t cave in like the building in their neighbourhood did a few days ago. Images of the building collapse that had claimed a young life are still fresh on their minds. They battle sleep disorders, but continue to stay here. “I saw the building collapse in front of me and since then I have not been able to sleep properly. Now, I am afraid of even fixing a nail on my apartment’s walls. We are living under constant fear,” says Kalpana who lives in the locality. Hundreds of residents of this area recall the tragedy to its minutest detail. Memories of the building collapse, they say, feels like a premonition for a bigger tragedy. “Anything can happen any time.
Living in these illegal buildings here is like waiting for death,” says Avinash a young technician who had bought a flat a year ago. His parents from Satara want him to leave the flat and also Pune and stay with them reasoning with him that they don’t care for the money lost but for his life. While Avinash may have an option to leave this unstable building, others say they have no choice but to continue living here. Praveen, for instance, invested in a flat here as he could not afford property elsewhere. The rubble that Pitaram Complex was reduced to on October 31 ensures people do not forget how unstable these illegal structures are. Many residents of the complex continue to rummage through the rubble hoping to find things that they lost -from schoolbags to kitchen utensils. The fear of unstable houses has only added to the list of concerns that people in fringe areas face. There are constructions in areas like Dhankawadi where there is no space between buildings, with windows opening into the adjacent building’s flats. People do not have access to drinking water, sanitation, basic health services and education. In many areas, only two-wheelers can ply on roads and there have been instances in the past when the fire brigade vehicles have failed to enter these lanes to reach a building on fire. The state government has made it clear that people buying illegal properties are responsible for any kind of loss. After the recent building collapse, the district collector asked tehsildars to conduct surveys of fringe villages and prepare a report on illegal constructions. But they are not sure of how ef fective would the exercise be. “Even if we prepare a report, demolishing all illegal buildings is nearly impossible as thousands of people are living here. There is already political pressure to regularize illegal buildings and all party leaders have repeatedly opposed the administration’s action,” said a senior district collectorate official. The resident profile of these areas makes it evident that so called ‘developers’ are exploiting lack of awareness to mint money. “People who come to Pune looking for small-time jobs and work at construction sites or in offices as drivers, as cooks or watchmen do not have much of a choice for accommodation. They want to live a life with dignity and have their own house and cannot afford one in the city and hence they opt for cheaper flats in the fringes,“ said Nitin Pawar, leader of unorganized workers in Pune city. A town planning official said: “Many builders seek permission from the district collector for construction and then go on adding floors on their own. They deceive buyers saying that building is legal and show commencement certificate.“According to the PMC and Mashal survey, affordable housing remains a distant dream for many in the city even though a sizeable 18% vacancy exists in the housing sector. This vacancy, which is far higher than the state average of 12%, is despite the fact that more than 40% of the city's population lives in slums. That the number of slum-dwellers in the city and illegal construction in fringes has increased over the years is a reflection of housing options being way out of their reach. Hundreds of illegal buildings in the city's fringes are not formally registered and many buildings stand on agricultural land owned by local bigwigs who have turned developers. With no bank ready to provide loans to buyers of flats in such buildings, some politicians and landlords offer loans on interest. Private money lenders and credit societies are also doing good business in the fringes. All the dealings are registered on Rs 100 stamp papers and buyers are assured that the building will be legalized later. The assurances are as weak as the structures. The foundation of Pitambar Complex, which caved in on October 31, was laid by filling up a water body.

My Advise: Buy property only from reputed, branded developers & builders within municipal corporation limits having approval sanctioned plan from municipal corporation or inside the townships which has been designed to provide all basic amenities. this may surely ask to pay more then the fringe areas projects however makes it sure that you have safety and security as an enduser or investment to get ultimately sure shot good returns also.