Bhubaneswar: Residents of a housing complex in Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Nagar area have lodged a complaint with the authorities against the developer of their project accusing it of forcibly occupying common areas that legally belong to the property’s allottees.
As per information, the residents’ welfare association of Trident Galaxy complex have filed a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner of Police-cum-Executive Magistrate of Bhubaneswar alleging that the developer entered the premises on May 23 and demolished a boundary wall and gate in the common area.
The residents claim this action was taken to create an access road for an adjacent project comprising around 600 housing units.
“We are one of the first registered associations of allottees of any housing projects in Bhubaneswar. Under the Odisha Apartment (Ownership and Management) Act of 2023, common areas and facilities are legally registered with the association, and the builder has no right over these spaces,” residents’ welfare association president Ajit Kumar Choudhary was quoted by TOI as saying.
Acting on their petition, the Executive Magistrate issued an interim order preventing both parties from altering the disputed common area until the next hearing on June 10. The builder has been asked to explain as to why appropriate action should not be taken against them.
In addition, the Inspector In-Charge (IIC) of Chandaka police station to investigate the May 23 incident and submit a report at the next hearing. Local police have been tasked with ensuring the disputed land remains undisturbed.
A home buyer from the project, which has around 1,200 families, alleged that the developer has been repeatedly builder has been violating the norms in utter disregard of the property rights of the residents and sanctity of common areas in the complex.
Reacting to the allegations made by the association, CEO of Trident Builders has reportedly claimed that they have not taken any illegal step. At the time of sale of flats in 2011 and then during registration, a condition for provision of a road passing through the complex was clearly mentioned in the sale deed, he claimed.
Stating that the home buyers have signed the relevant documents twice, he said the process for making the proposed road has been initiated in accordance with the guidelines.
