Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore   

Members allege malpractice by housing society

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore Nov. 22. The members of a housing cooperative society in Bangalore, who have paid large amounts for house sites, are now in a peculiar situation: the society has allegedly been selling the same sites to others.

In a letter to the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, 47 members of Shree Venkateswara House Building Cooperative Society have complained the office-bearers have not been informed them about the allotment of sites for which they made payments four years ago.

An interesting aspect of the matter is that the President and other office-bearers of the society are employees of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Vimanapura. Communications from the society listing its office-bearers mentions they are ADA employees, and a copy has been given to the Registrar by the aggrieved members.

The housing society was formed in mid-1999, with the members informed about the benefits of owning a plot close to a layout planned by the Bangalore Development Authority at HBR on the four-lane Ring Road connecting Old Madras Road and Bellary Road, 10 km. from M.G. Road. Other merits mentioned were BMTC bus services to the area and the plan of two reputed schools to open branches at HBR Layout.

The price quoted in 1999 was Rs. 110 to Rs. 115 per sq.ft. while corner sites were to be auctioned, the members say. The amenities promised included 30 ft. wide roads, sanitary and water connections from BWSSB, additional water supply from borewells, and electricity connections. Finance was to be arranged through a leading company for those who required it.

According to the members of the housing society who have now approached the Registrar of Cooperatives, the same layout was recently advertised in newspapers, and the promoters have invited potential buyers with the promise of house sites. Members who have already paid for their sites say they were shocked to read the advertisement.

They feel the situation came about because the society has not held its annual general meetings as required under the law for three years, and has not divulged any details about the layout such as land acquisition and agreements with the developers. Despite repeated requests, the office bearers have not given the members the memorandum of association of the society or copies of other documents. The society has not provided any required information to the Registrar, according to the members.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Phone bill helped murder investigators
• 'Green' changes are sweeping the city
• Grahak Shakti forming e-groups
• Members allege malpractice by housing society
• Former bank official, wife commit suicide

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu