East End Apartments' power supply faces disconnection
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East End Apartments' power supply faces disconnection

The Delhi Fire Service has ordered BSES to disconnect power supply to the society in Mayur Vihar Phase 1 Extension with immediate effect for violating safety norms.

East End Apartments' power supply faces disconnection

The Delhi Fire Service has ordered BSES to disconnect East End Apartments' power supply with immediate effect for violating safety norms. The move could plunge nearly 1,300 homes into darkness, causing unbearable hardship to more than 5,000 residents of this society in Mayur Vihar 1 Extension. 

In a bid to sort out issues, BK Singh, the president of the RWA, is likely to meet the fire service department officials on Thursday. Kailash Vadhera, the RWA treasurer, told City Spidey that the society's managing committee will fully comply with the fire safety requirements. He claimed that the compliance work was delayed as the managing committee was required to call a general body meeting to discuss the issue. 

The residents have a different take. Narasimhan Rao, a resident of Block 18 of the society, said the crisis was a result of the managing committee's apathy. He accused the elected body of failing to check illegal construction in his block that had obstructed the main power switchboard. The encroachment, he said, violated fire safety norms, as, in case of a fire, officials would have found it difficult to access the spot. When the managing committee failed to act, the residents had approached Delhi Fire Service with a written complaint. 

The officials of fire safety service were already miffed with the apartment management as they could not attend a recent emergency call. The fire engines could not enter the society through its west gate because of its narrow approach path. They had to reverse the heavy fire tenders and enter through the main gate, losing valuable time. 

The encroachment complaint by the residents only added fuel to the fire. The fire safety officials, after conducting a quick audit, issued a showcause notice to the management, asking them to remove the encroachments and comply with other fire safety norms, failing which they threatened it of severe action. 

Arun Agarwal, a member of the managing committee, is supposed to have received the showcause notice. According to one version, he forgot to inform the managing committee. This strange explanation is not bought by everybody. According to a resident, the management committee, which is vertically split following internal differences, is only trying to palm off its responsibility by providing lame excuses.

The residents of the society are upset over the committee's inaction after it got elected with a huge mandate, with promises to run the society in a professional manner. After initial bonhomie, the committee soon split into two factions, which have been fighting each other ever since, causing immense hardship to residents. 

East End Apartments, one of the oldest societies of Mayur Vihar Phase 1 Extension, has been facing many problems because of its poor management. Recently, the society found itself in the news, as a contractor abandoned work midway due to non-payment of dues. The contractor was supposed to reinforce certain foundation columns of the apartment with additional steel and concrete. The strengthening work was stopped midway, leaving columns and structures exposed, jeopardising the safety of residents.