The Karnataka Real Estate Regulatory Authority (K-RERA) has issued an order to Bengaluru-based builder, Ozone Urbana Infra Developers Private Limited, demanding immediate registration of their property 'Serene Urbana' with the Authority. The residential home, designed for senior citizens and situated in Kannamangala village, Devanahalli taluk, is said to be unfinished and deficient in various safety features.
On July 6, an order was issued, classifying 'Serene Urbana' as an "ongoing project." The order was signed by Chairman H C Kishore Chandra and Members Neelamani N Raju and G R Reddy. The directive mandates the builder, Ozone Urbana Infra Developers Private Limited, to promptly register the project under Section 3 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) within starting from the date of receiving the order, a period of two weeks allowed.
This decision comes as the project remains incomplete and falls under the purview of RERA regulations. The order was prompted by a complaint lodged with K-RERA by the Serene Urbana Apartment Owners Welfare Association against the builder (Respondent 1) and four other entities: Covai Property Centre India Ltd in Coimbatore (Respondent 2), Covai Senior Care Constructions Pvt Ltd (Respondent 3), Serene Senior Living Private Limited in Chennai (Respondent 4), and Columbia Pacific Communities Private Limited in Bengaluru (Respondent 5).
According to the complaint, the respondents allegedly planned and conspired to deceive the allottees by collecting a significant amount from them even before executing the agreement of sale. The advocate representing the Association, G Suriya Narayanan, revealed that the project comprises 318 apartments, with residents primarily being senior citizens with an average age of 79. Many of their children are residing abroad, and these senior citizens sought a safe and peaceful life in the residential community. However, they are facing multiple issues.
Among the reported problems is the lack of fire safety clearance, improper safety clearances for elevators and electrical installations, and the sale of the common property on the ground floor, which had been paid for by all house owners, to Columbia Pacific Communities Pvt Ltd. Additionally, the builder allegedly did not hand over the one-time maintenance sum of Rs 3.69 crore, which was paid by all owners to the association, and instead, it was given to the service provider, the Columbia Pacific group.
The primary respondent argued that all development works were completed before RERA came into force. However, the order established that as of July 31, 2017, the project remained incomplete. The builder claimed that the project had been completed, but the certificate provided by an architect, rather than the mandated Gram Panchayat, was deemed invalid.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Home Buyers Forum, representing home buyers in the state, has requested Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya to ensure the effective implementation of K-RERA. They also urged the government to declare a competent authority for apartment owners' associations and define the process for the transfer of common areas by builders under Section 17 of RERA. The MP has assured the home buyers that appropriate measures will be taken in response to their requests.
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