The demolition of Supertech’s controversial Twin Towers in Noida has sent out a strong message to all the builders and every official who is in cahoots with them. It is quite clear that the developers, be it big or small, have to think twice before indulging in any sort of illegal practices. The Supreme Court of India took a big step against the corrupt builders and authority officials, giving the message of “Zero Tolerance”. No builder can now play with buyer’s sentiments by setting unrealistic expectations.
It is an undeniable fact that India has seen the demolition of many buildings in the past but the levelling of Twin Towers will certainly go down as one of the biggest controlled implosions in the history. It has shaken up not only the realtors but all those people who have been carrying out illegal practices since decades. Experts say that this measure may put the fear of law and order in the minds of such fraudulents.
What should a homebuyer do before buying a flat?
The first and foremost step for any homebuyer is to check if the housing project is RERA-registered or not. The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act was launched in 2016 to protect the rights of the homebuyers. It makes sure quality construction, on-time delivery of the project, balanced agreements, transparency on sale based on the carpet area and transparency on utilization, among other benefits.
Besides this, a buyer should always check that all the necessary permissions are in place and no rules have been violated, especially in the case of construction in ecologically-sensitive areas like coastal zones. Consumers should also enquire with the town planning department before purchasing any residential property to check for legal clearances and permissions.
In case of the building being declared illegal, the best case for the homebuyers is the monetary compensation that the court may order them to receive.
Why Twin Towers were demolished?
There could be several reasons for the demolishment of a residential project. It depends on several factors such as efficient use of additional floor area ratio, age of a building, redevelopment and other engineering concerns. This is in the case of legally constructed buildings. Other reasons could be non-engineered structures and simply illegal construction without getting proper approvals from the authority.
If we talk about the Twin Towers, Supertech was granted approval in 2005 by the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA) to build 14 towers in Noida with nine floors each, a shopping complex and a garden area. However, the company later revised its project in 2009 to include twin high-rise buildings — Apex and Ceyane. Though the NOIDA authority approved the new plan as well, the Emerald Court project Residents Welfare Association (RWA) moved to the Allahabad High Court in 2012 alleging it was an illegal construction.
Apparently, High Court also ruled that the towers were illegal and ordered them to be demolished in 2014. However, the NOIDA authority and Supertech didn’t take those orders seriously and decided to knock at apex court’s doors.
The Supreme Court found out that the towers were built without complying with building regulations and fire safety norms. It also pointed out that the guidelines regulating the minimum distance between towers had been violated and that the entire structure was constructed illegally, without taking the consent of flat owners, as stated under the Uttar Pradesh Apartment Act.
Therefore, on August 28, the towers were flattened in just 15 seconds with the help of 3,500 kg explosives. It has set an example for the entire real industry that violation of rules is not an option for anybody in the modern India.