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Should not the GHMC withhold the registration of individual apartments in such cases? Now that the GHMC has proposed to legalise many such structures through the CDS, should they not levy the penalties on the erring builders of such complexes rather than punishing innocent apartment owners? I am labelling the apartment owners as ‘innocent’ because it is beyond the capacity of most to see through the facade of a plan created by the cunning builders, who have been in the trade for a long period.

Further, the best external verification they could plausibly obtain is through the banks offering housing loans, and even if they too grant loans amidst erroneous or non-existent documentation, and hence what’s the rationale of victimising the gullible apartment owners for such transgressions?

Most of the flat owners have purchased flats after satisfying the documents shown by the builder. Here, I would like to say that the majority of them belong to middle class families and purchased these flats by borrowing loans.

But, surprisingly majority of the builders started creating problems by occupying part of cellar areas and constructing additional flats by violating sanction plans. Many associations of apartments have approached their respective Forums and Courts, for justice. Surprisingly, the government instead of taking stringent action against culprits issued a G.O. on CDS for regularizing illegal constructions including apartments.

The government can implement this G.O. on those who violate sanctioned plans while constructing independent houses but not on apartments, since builders have done many things against the wishes of flat owners and deserve punishment not penalties.

The GHMC need to clarify the following: The entire cellar area has been divided and ear marked to each of the existing sanctioned flats.

How can any builder construct additional flats violating sanctioned plans? Apartments constructed purely for residential purpose can be partly converted to commercial activities?

Is it desirable to accord permission for such activities? Is it not the duty of concerned authority to take an appropriate action at the initial stage itself? K.P.L.Goud,

We the buyers do not check the proposed layout plan as against the sanctioned plan is a reality. Every flat owner of the building trusts the builder. When banks readily extend loans for properties deviating from norms despite layout papers submitted to them, authorities supply water and electricity to these “illegal buildings” and make roads to make them accessible, the only party that now has to cough up a fine is the buyer.

We are being penalised for lack of awareness while those who actually connived in giving shape and form to these illegal structures—builders and civic authorities— are going scoot free.

Builders are predictably pleased with the present development, as this would only mean regularisation of structures by paying a minimal amount and that too not from their pocket in any case. The disclosure scheme has created a flutter among us citizens. It is an open book that the government is hand in glove in these deals and the scheme in itself is double-edged swords as far as consumers are concerned. As per the Reserve Bank of India guidelines, no housing loan can be given if there are deviations but no bank is complying with it. However, the consumer stands to lose since he would continue paying back the loan even after his illegally constructed apartment got demolished.

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