Gurgaon: Weeks after a show-cause notice issued by the department of town and country planning (DTCP), the residents’ welfare association (RWA) of Uniworld Garden-1 in Sector 47 has sought 30 days to submit a response. On Sept 19, DTCP had issued the notice over alleged violations of approved building plans and the colony’s occupation certificate (OC). The DTCP notice, issued on Sept 19, had warned that failure to comply with the directions could be treated as an admission of the alleged violations, with action taken under the applicable law.According to the notice, a site inspection by the department identified several alleged deviations. These include the conversion of organised green space into tennis and pickleball courts, the enclosure of an area near the economically weaker section (EWS) building with steel mesh, the conversion of a parking area in front of Tower 5 into a cricket or football pitch, the erection of an unauthorised entry gate and construction on the terrace floors of Towers 1 to 8 without approval of revised plans.The notice, issued under Section 10(2) of Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act, 1975, had referred to alleged irregularities involving green spaces, sports facilities, parking and construction on the terraces of residential towers. DTCP had directed the RWA to explain why legal action should not be initiated and why the alleged unauthorised construction should not be demolished or sealed.In its reply dated Oct 1, Uniworld Garden Apartment Owners Association (UGAOA) said it received the notice only on Sept 30, around 3.20pm, by which time the stipulated date — Sept 28 — for appearing before the competent authority had already passed. UGAOA has urged the department to keep coercive action in abeyance until it receives a “reasonable opportunity” to respond and be heard. UGAOA said it would cooperate with the authorities and submit the available supporting documents after examining each observation. The association requested that no adverse action be taken against it for failing to appear or submit “a detailed response” within the prescribed period.The association also pointed out that some of the issues could relate to the period before the developer handed over the assets, noting that the colony was approximately two decades old. It said a hurried or incomplete response would not adequately address the observations raised by the department. The RWA has requested a copy of the original complaint that prompted the notice, saying it would help it prepare a comprehensive, point-wise reply. It has also sought a personal hearing after submitting its response, so its representatives can explain the facts relating to each allegation.The department alleged that these changes were in violation of the approved building plans and OC for the licensed group housing colony, developed by Rhino Holding. In its reply, the RWA said it had examined the allegations and, based on the information currently available, was not aware of any construction-related deviations undertaken by it in contravention of the approved plans. However, it said the allegations covered multiple issues requiring verification of records and the actual position at the site.
