Concrete chunk falls off in condo after storm, injures house help

Noida: A house help in Sector 107’s Great Value Sharanam Society suffered head injuries after she was hit by chunks of falling concrete. Residents of the housing society said there have been several such incidents in the recent past, and the rain and strong winds have only increased their frequency.The general secretary of the apartment owners’ association (AOA), Bishwarup Mallick, has said their demands for repair have not been heeded by the builder.“We are deeply concerned about our safety and frustrated by the continued negligence of the builder and the inaction of the authorities. Large pieces of plaster and concrete are regularly falling from buildings, structural cracks are visible, and canopies are collapsing and falling apart. The domestic worker who got injured required several stitches,” he told TOI.The storm on Saturday loosened plaster at a few other spots, leading to several chunks falling down again, he added.TOI had reported on May 11 that a structural audit of the buildings identified several columns to be “high risk”. “The audit also recommended removal of all loose plaster and deteriorated concrete, followed by proper repairs, waterproofing, and replastering. However, despite these findings, the builder has failed to take adequate corrective action,” said Mallick.President of the AOA, Abhishek Mittal, said in addition to these deteriorating standards, excavation for new towers — very close to the existing buildings — has already started, despite repeated complaints and warnings by the residents about the risks involved. “We urge the Noida Authority, police, and the district administration to act immediately before a preventable tragedy results in loss of lives,” he said.The society, which has over 1,500 flats and is 100% occupied, is still under the builder’s control. Residents have staged protests in Jan this year and last year on the matter.When contacted, the builder management told TOI that since the society has entered its 12th year, a comprehensive maintenance and technical close-out programme is actively progressing. “Repair work is currently in full swing. All activities are being conducted under stringent safety protocols and quality control measures. After the programme ends, there will be phased asset transition to facilitate seamless handover of the operations to the apartment owners soon,” they said.