Condominiums growing tall and fat but not strong
There appears to be sudden surge in the growth of condominiums, not only in Colombo and the suburbs, but also in the outstations. One does not know who regulates these buildings. To my knowledge the Condominium Management Authority, the Urban Development Authority, Colombo Municipality and perhaps the Environmental Authority are jointly and severally responsible for the ‘finished product’. It may be prudent for the Consumer Affairs Authority also to be involved.
However, when a prospective purchaser approaches these authorities to obtain clarifications with regard to authorized building plans, quality and legality of the Condominium Apartment Buildings, they are sent from pillar to post without adequate information. Some times information is deliberately withheld to assist the developer.
Invariably advances are paid even before foundations are laid as the developer indicates attractive discounts from the final price. Unfortunately, after the payments are made in full and occupation is allowed by the developer, it takes a number of years to obtain the Certificate of Conformity (COC) from the local authorities like the Municipal Councils , Urban Councils etc.
Invariably buildings do not conform to the original plan and thereby Title Deeds, in some cases are not issued for over 10 years and beyond.
Wellawatte, often referred to as ‘flat-watte’ is inundated with condominiums. The byroads which catered for about five to 15 hous- es, now cater for over 300-500 apartments. Thus the roads are choc-a-bloc, both with human and vehicular traffic. It is not known as to whether sewerage system and water supplies could withstand the demands in the future. A couple of years ago there was a rule that on the seaside roads, not more than four storeyed apartments could be built in order to allow the free flow of sea breeze to the land side. However, this restriction was violated, I understand, with a ‘santhosam’ of a million rupees per additional floor to the appropriate authorities.
Now, no such restriction appears to exist. Further, in other areas too, approved building plans are violated openly by putting up additional floors. This results in the legitimate purchasers being denied the transfer deeds as COC is not given to the developer by the local authority. With the passage of time however, when the authorities are’ looked after’ adequately by contributions from the purchasers, COC is obtained. Nevertheless, the deed of transfer is not given for various other reasons like mortgages etc. The poor purchasers continue to be in an unenviable position of holding the tiger’s tail.
There are a number of apartments, where deeds, particularly in the Wellawatte area are not given.
It would be prudent for the Condominium Management Authority to look into such apartments. The Sunday Times of 26/7/15 reported this under the title “Deeds and Misdeeds: 6000 owners fall flat in Condominiums”. One is led to believe the Condominium Management Authority, Colombo Municipal Council, Urban Development Authority are all in hand in glove with the developers and desist from initiating action even when complaints are made.
Colombo is becoming a concrete jungle. Unless adequate precautions are taken we will end up in an oven.
It is suggested that laws should be enacted to ensure that adequate land space 12 ft wide X the length and breadth of the building be provided at least on two sides of the apartment complex to enable shady trees to be planted with a little space for gardening too. K.Balendra
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