Managing committee of OCS Apts split over setting up a roof top solar power system, taking benefit of the Delhi government’s new solar energy policy.
Politics and ego clashes among management committee members of the OCS Apartments, a cooperative group housing society in Mayur Vihar Phase I Extension, held up the setting up of a rooftop solar power system. Its meeting held on Sunday failed to evolve a consensus on the contribution each of the 180 flat owners of the society have to make for setting up the system on the roof.
In an earlier general body meeting, the managing committee had fixed a sum of Rs 5,000 as contribution of each flat owner for setting up a rooftop solar system and the committee decided to pitch in with Rs 50,000 out of the maintenance fund.
KK Verma, president of OCS Apartments managing committee, said, “We have a space of 400 sqm on the roof. Power department of Delhi government promised to pay Rs 9 lakh out of the total Rs 30 lakh needed to set up the system. The Delhi government pays a subsidy of 30 per cent for setting up a rooftop solar system as per its solar policy.
In view of the requirement, the contribution was fixed at Rs 5,000 per household in the society of 180 flats. The managing committee decided to contribute Rs 6 lakh to meet the rest of the expenses of the project. But now, the society could not go ahead with the project as some members of the society have refused to pay the contribution, said Verma. “We are still trying to persuade them,” he added.
A senior member in the managing committee said on condition of anonymity, “Rs 5,000 is not a big amount. I think all flat owners are capable to pay this amount. But the problem is politics within the managing committee. It won't be right to take their name openly but it is fact that three of the 11 members are opposing the project. This is the reason as to why the residents are confused whether they should pay Rs 5,000 or not.”
OCS Apartments was the first housing society in Mayur Vihar area that decided to make the society self-reliant in energy. City Spidey had reported on last year September 12 that the managing committee had unanimously passed the proposal.
