Apartment Protest Over Denial of Amenities

Introduction to Apartment Protests

Apartment protests have become a common occurrence in India, with residents frequently taking to the streets to demand basic amenities and services from their builders. One such protest was recently held by the residents of Ladder Capital Hill apartment complex in Pangappara, Thiruvananthapuram, against the builder for denial of essential facilities.

The protest, attended by around 80 of the 178 families living in the apartment, including women, was held to draw attention to the “physical and mental harassment” of the residents by the builder. This incident highlights the growing concerns of apartment residents in India and the need for stricter regulations to protect their rights.

Background of the Protest

The residents of Ladder Capital Hill apartment complex had been facing numerous issues with their builder, including denial of basic amenities such as regular water supply, electricity, and functional lifts. The residents had also complained about the lack of waste management and the builder's failure to transfer assets to the residents’ association.

The situation had become so dire that the residents felt compelled to stage a protest outside the builder's office in Thampanoor. The protest was a last resort for the residents, who had been trying to resolve the issues with the builder for months.

Demands of the Protesters

The protesters raised slogans demanding an end to their ordeal and The Ladder Owners’ Association said the residents were not getting basic amenities such as regular water supply or electricity.

“Water was not available even in toilets,” the residents said. A resident who had bought a flat there over a year ago said other flat owners had been suffering longer than him.

“Many elderly and seriously ill patients live here. However, the lifts do not function properly.” No maintenance is carried out. Waste management is in a shambles. If a fire breaks out, there is no water to douse it even.

Real Estate Regulatory Authority Guidelines

The residents said that as per Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) guidelines, builders have to facilitate the formation of residents’ associations and transfer common area maintenance, records, and corpus funds collected from buyers to the residents’ association.

However, in Ladder Capital Hill, no assets had been transferred or corpus fund of ₹1.5 lakh collected from each family handed over to the association. This is a clear violation of RERA guidelines, and the residents are demanding that the builder take immediate action to rectify the situation.

Alleged Physical Attacks

The protesters said the association president and treasurer had been “brutally beaten up” a day ago, and the builders instead were behaving like goons and sending people to threaten them.

The flat owners said there was an ongoing case in this connection with RERA. They had filed cases with the Sreekaryam police too. The residents are seeking justice and protection from the authorities, and they will not back down until their demands are met.

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Police Intervention

The protesters said Sreekumar, a manager at Ladder, had told the Thampanoor police who had arrived at the protest site that he had discontinued water supply to the flats.

The police then asked the manager to resume supply. The Ladder representative, when contacted, however alleged that the residents had assaulted maintenance persons sent for work. However, the residents deny these allegations and claim that they are being falsely accused by the builder.

Key Demands

• Regular water supply
• Proper electricity supply
• Functional lifts
• Waste management
• Transfer of assets to the residents’ association
• Corpus fund of ₹1.5 lakh to be handed over to the association

The Thampanoor station house officer said an understanding on resuming water supply had been reached between the parties. However, the residents are still waiting for the builder to fulfill their other demands, and they will continue to protest until their rights are protected.

Implications for Readers in India

The Ladder Capital Hill apartment protest is not an isolated incident. There are numerous apartment complexes across India where residents are facing similar issues with their builders. The protest highlights the need for stricter regulations and laws to protect the rights of apartment residents in India.

Readers in India can learn from this incident and take steps to protect their own rights as apartment residents. It is essential to be aware of the laws and regulations that govern apartment complexes and to take collective action when necessary to demand basic amenities and services from builders.

What to Watch Next

The Ladder Capital Hill apartment protest is an ongoing issue, and readers can expect to see further developments in the coming days. The residents are likely to continue their protest until their demands are met, and the builder may face legal action if they fail to comply with RERA guidelines.

As the situation unfolds, it is essential to stay informed about the latest developments and to support the residents in their fight for their rights. Apartment residents across India can learn from this incident and take collective action to demand better services and amenities from their builders.