Builder digs for basement & damages drain, society flooded, ET RealEstate
GHAZIABAD: Excavation for a residential project in Siddharth Vihar has ruptured a drain near the Ganga water treatment plant in Vijayanagar zone, leaving an adjacent high-rise society’s subbasement flooded with sewage water on Friday.
In Prateek Grand City, residents of the upper floors claimed they were “trapped” in their homes as the maintenance team was forced to shut lifts as putrid water filled the subbasement. The society’s 24 towers, each with 28 floors, have nearly 3,000 residents.
According to officials, the drain was damaged during excavation for the basement of a residential project by Prateek Group Builders around 2pm on Thursday. By Friday afternoon, its water had inundated Prateek Grand’s subbasement, which is used as a car park. Photographs and videos shared on social media showed scores of cars stranded in the subbasement.
“There is a foul smell all around. People, especially senior citizens living in the top floors, are now forced to stay indoors. We are unable to get groceries or medicines,” NK Negi, a resident of Prateek Grand, said.
Residents claimed the water supply to the society had been affected since Friday evening. Several of them staged a protest on Friday.
On Friday, GMC and UP Jal Nigam issued notices to the builder, directing them to immediately repair the breach. The excavation, officials said also damaged a 100-metre boundary wall of Pratap Vihar water treatment plant.
“During the excavation of the basement, due to not making proper technical arrangements to ensure the stability of the drain passing through the WTP premises, the said flowing drain got damaged on May 1 at 2pm. As a result, about 100 metres of the boundary wall of the WTP have been damaged…The plant premises are not safe due to the damage to the WTP wall. Also, there is a strong possibility of the drain flow entering the plant premises,” UP Jal Nigam executive engineer Brahmanand said in his letter.
The letter states if the drain water affected operation or maintenance of the WTP, then “it will be the responsibility of the builder”, and Jal Nigam will be forced to take action as per the rules.
A similar letter was issued by the GMC executive engineer. “The drain has been damaged due to digging the basement to a depth more than the standard, due to which the drain water has filled the building being constructed by you, and there is a possibility of water filling in the surrounding buildings as well, due to which any untoward incident can happen at any time,” it said.
Despite repeated calls, the builder was not available for a comment.
