Shared Facilities in DDA Flats Have Become a Problem Child

If we consider the price rise from 1980s until now, the DDA flats in Vasant Kunj would qualify to represent one of the best investments! Yes, if you focus on the fact that Vasant Kunj has become an upscale colony blessed with the best malls & with easy access to some of the prime locations!
But can you disregard the problems the residents face. Hard to believe that even after three decades it is denied 24/7 water supply. Rains sink the roads. There is no recreational club.

But it is the shared facilities in the DDA flats, that have become a problem child, robbing the residents of their peace of mind ! Who is to blame?

Is it the paradigm shift in our value systems, emergence of nuclear families, need for personal space or is it simply a case of wishing away neighbours?

Let us try and identify potential problem areas and if something can at all be done to address these!

1. Chemistry- Once the Chemistry between neighbours goes bad , Physics goes bad too. A disturbed equation starts showing up in arguments over all common areas. So mind your language and be civil from the start.
2. Noise- TV running at high volume and repairs carried out at odd hours can easily upset the neighbours. Be considerate and make adjustments.
3. Pets- Your neighbours may not be dog lovers like you. Pets can scare them and be a source of nuisance. It is your duty to control and restrain your pets.
4. Privacy- Prying eyes can land one in serious trouble. So also, loose gossip. Respect others’ privacy.
5. Threats- Flaunting your connections or issuing implicit or explicit threats to neighbours can start a never-ending tit for tat. Be humble and try to develop a working relationship!
6. Staircase- Cleaning and adequate lighting cost is not huge so even if not all but a few are prepared to share, accept it.
7. Leaking/Choked Drain Pipes- It is often no body’s baby since the pipe connects all four floors & it is easy to blame others. Don’t delay action so get the pipe and the pit cleaned first to avoid foul smell and an ugly sight. Then hope for some to share the cost.
8. Use Of Common Area for Storage- One often finds cement bags and other construction material lying for months blocking free movement.  It must be done, if absolutely necessary, with blessings from the other neighbours.
9. Removal Of Malba- Renovation costs are often running in lakhs of rupees but the malba is not removed though it costs very little. Our local RWA has found a solution by collecting a refundable deposit of Rs 5000 which is paid back after mulba is removed.
10. Renting Out Garrage-In every other block, you find a tailor running his shop out of a garage. He even uses the space outside which the neighbours object to, unless it is done with their concurrence. Security is another issue. So, avoid renting out.
11. Terrace Access- With water tanks located on the terrace, occupants of the three floors, below the third, insist on 24/7 access. The occupant of the 3rd floor isn’t always comfortable with this expectation and this leads to disputes in many cases. The remedy is to provide an independent access thru a door carrying a number combination lock. This does away with the need for duplicate keys. Only the lock number combination needs to be provided to the authorized occupants of the other floors.
12. Additional Space- Although prohibited by law, 90 % of the flat owners have built an extra balcony/room to meet the growing needs of space. This presupposes the consent of the neighbours above and below and sharing of costs in an agreed proportion.  And it takes months to complete the construction, causing disturbance to the neighbourhood. You are lucky if you have accommodating and forgiving neighbours. If acceptable equations can’t be worked out, people even approach the RWA to mediate! Complaints to the authorities if made, can not only jeopardise this project but also put in trouble other flat owners.
13. Parking- Multiple cars with families and a limited parking space leads to disputes.  Only way out is to avoid haphazard parking and parking one behind the other car belonging to the same family. Also report to the authorities, thru your RWA, cases of junked cars occupying the precious parking space.
14. Lift Installation- Not having provided lifts initially, DDA woke up much later and allowed installation of lifts provided at least 3 of the total 8 flat owners have no objection in a block. However, a permission from the concerned MCD is a must.
       Over a dozen lifts have so far been installed in D-3/4. But it is a herculean task to be able to coordinate and get everyone involved to reach a consensus on formula for sharing of costs for different floors. There are contractors available who undertake this job on a turnkey basis.  Normally it is the 2nd and 3rd floor occupants who drive the whole process. Once installed, the lift is a boon, particularly, for the residents in their twilight years.
15. New Rules of Maintenance – In DDA flats built from 2010, one-time 12 to 15% (without & with lift) of flat cost has been added towards maintenance of common areas. This amount was intended to be transferred to the newly formed RWAs who in turn would collect the maintenance fee from the individual flat owners. But there are reports of DDA backing out of this commitment, which would need to be legally challenged and fought!
    The builder flats in Vasant Kunj do not seem to have organised RWAs which hinders proper development. 
    In conclusion, it is important for occupants of flats to understand that they are not living in independent bungalows where they can live according to their whims and fancies.

by Rakesh Dewan (D-3/3124, Mobile 8819244978)