Greater Noida residents complain of cracks in building due to quake
Residents of Stellar Jeevan in Greater Noida (west) complained about large cracks in the building after recent tremors.
Residents of a newly developed group housing society Stellar Jeevan in Greater Noida (west) Sector 1 complained about large cracks in the building following recent tremors due to an earthquake on April 13.
They asked the authority to inspect the quality of construction and direct the builder to take corrective measures immediately.
However, the builder refuted the allegations and said that development of cracks is a normal phenomenon in a new building.
“The builder has used poor construction material. As a result, wide cracks developed due to an earthquake that hit Noida on April 13. There are cracks in all rooms of my 3 BHK flat. The door of the kitchen also became unhinged on April 13. We demand that the authority take action immediately,” Anurag Goswami, who shifted two months ago, said.
Goswami has written to the top officials, including Deepak Agarwal, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Greater Noida authority, demanding action on the issue. Many residents have lodged a complaint with the builder, who has denied that these cracks are due to earthquakes.
“There is no crack in any of the column beams in my building, which would have been a serious thing. There are hairline cracks in few blocks due to heat. It happens in a new building. We are getting it fixed. Residents need not worry at all as we have used good quality construction material,” Akshay Mohan Sethi, director of Stellar Group, said.
However, residents remain sceptical. “There are structural faults in the building. Construction material is of poor quality, there are wide gaps even in column beams. The builder is not addressing our genuine concerns. He has not delivered what he had promised. Residents are fearful due to cracks following the earthquake,” Utkarsh Singhal a resident and an architect, said.
“The plaster of my bathroom fell off when there was repair work going on in the flat upstairs. I also deal with buildings, so I can figure out that the builder has cheated us,” Singhal said.
“Our facility department is addressing the complaints of each buyer. We are advising residents not to use nails on the walls. They should use other methods for hanging things because our walls are designed differently,” Sethi said.
The builder has developed 18 residential towers on 18 acres. Around 600 families have shifted to the society, the builder said.
“We will look into the complaints of residents and take appropriate action within the legal framework,” PC Gupta, additional chief executive officer of the Greater Noida authority, said.