07 March,2011 07:20 AM IST | | Rinkita Gurav
Juhu resident gets BMC notice for private lift inside flat and for occupying a part of terrace; builder had sold him the property with these amenities
Is your builder going out of the way to offer a mouth-watering deal? Trudge carefully or else you will end up inviting troubles home, literally.
Take the case of Pranav Inamdar, who bought a 4BHK flat for around Rs 12 crore in Joy Sapphire apartments in Juhu. He got a notice for constructing an unauthorised lift inside his flat that operated between the 10th floor and the terrace and for illegal moderation on the terrace.
According to sources, the builder had apparently lured Inamdar by promising him a private lift and ownership of half the terrace.
But Inamdar, who shiftedu00a0 to the apartment a few months ago, had little idea that these small favours from the builder would cost him dear in the future.
Rajkumar Makharia, resident who claims to be the plot owner of the building, informed the BMC about the controversial lift and the tacit deal between the builder and Inamdar that included selling off a portion of the terrace that is meant for all residents of the building.
Acting on Makharia's letters, the BMC found out that the builder did not have permission for constructing the controversial lift. Makharia said, "When the builder started constructing a lift inside Inamdar's flat, we thought he must have got permission from the BMC. Later, when Inamdar started erecting a partition wall in the terrace, we smelt a rat. According to the agreement between the builder and the owner of the flat on the 10th floor, it has been stated that the 1,450 sq ft of the terrace has been sold to Inamdar and that's why the lift was constructed."
Assistant engineer of the building proposal department (K West ward) Mahadeo Shinde said, "We received complaints from Makharia and started looking into the matter. After inspecting the area the last time, we had torn down a wall built on the terrace as no construction is allowed. Some glass sheets put up on the ceiling were also removed. We have also given them a notice to do away with the illegal structures within three weeks. If they do not follow our instructions, we will prosecute them."
The area wherein the builder had put up the glass was supposed to be left open but it was done for beautifying the place. It was later removed by the BMC. Gyanmurti Sharma, chairman of the civic law committee, said, "We held a meeting last week with all the parties and the BMC will take action if the unauthorised constructions are not rectified."
Do you know?
Every construction in the building -- from setting up a grill for the window to building a wall on the terrace -- requires permission from the BMC. Also, sale of terrace space is not allowed.
The Other Side
Asked about the controversial lift and BMC notice Inamdar said, "Iu00a0 shifted out of that buildingu00a0 two months ago. I do not know anything about the lift. I have not purchased the terrace at all. You must talk to the builder."
Jayant Soni of Joy Builders, which has developed the plot, said, "We have put in the application for regularising the lift and the BMC will inspect it in some weeks. Also, no sale of terrace has taken place. The BMC tore down the partition wall a few days back."
