In Gurugram's BPTP Astaire Gardens, approximately 30 residents found their power supply abruptly cut off on Friday morning without any prior notice. The residents are blaming the maintenance agency for harassment. In response, Deputy Commissioner Nishant Yadav has initiated a three-member inquiry committee. Meanwhile, BPTP group refutes these allegations, attributing the disconnections to unpaid electricity bills. DHBVN officials affirm the power disruption was due to internal maintenance and the matter is between the agency and the residents. The investigation continues.
In an unexpected turn of events, the power supply to around 30 apartments in BPTP Astaire Gardens, a residential sector in Gurugram, was abruptly severed on Friday morning, reportedly without prior notification. The residents have accused the housing development's maintenance agency of harassment, a charge that has led the deputy commissioner to initiate an investigation.
Jaswant Singh, a resident and complainant, noted that the power disruption was attributed to a maintenance shutdown by the agency. He further added that the electricity supply, along with the power backup, was cut around 10 am on Friday. According to him, the residents are being troubled by the developer who has allegedly disconnected the power due to overdue common area maintenance (CAM) charges.
"I was slapped with an electricity bill of Rs 92,000 for May," said Singh, "I contested it, but instead of resolving the dispute, they have cut off my power supply."
In response to the outcry, Deputy Commissioner Nishant Yadav has instituted a three-member panel to probe the situation. A formal police complaint against the housing developer was lodged on Friday.
Rohit Mohan, Senior Vice-President of the BPTP group, dismissed the allegations, asserting that the electricity cut-off was only enforced due to residents' failure to settle their power bills. "Any disconnection carried out adheres to the due process after issuing multiple notices," said Mohan. He encouraged the residents to clear outstanding bills for the resumption of services.
A high-ranking official at DHBVN maintained that the power shutdown was initiated by the agency for internal maintenance. "Upon investigation, it was established that the dispute is an internal issue between the maintenance agency and the residents. There were no supply problems from our end," the official confirmed.
In conclusion, The sudden power cut in BPTP Astaire Gardens has escalated into a conflict between the residents and the housing developer. With the authorities now intervening, a thorough investigation will hopefully bring clarity and resolution to the dispute. As a growing number of cities grapple with managing urban residential services, incidents such as these underline the importance of transparent communication and dispute resolution mechanisms between residents and service providers.
This story was earlier published in ET Realty