Close This File
Close This File
Nobody was happy with my decision to settle down in Bulandsahar. Everyone in my family was apprehensive about my decision. My son suggested Gurgaon, my daughter suggested Bangalore, my wife suggested Patna and my wise brothers-in-law suggested Why not Konch? Everybody was suggesting 3 or 4 BHK, somebody suggests take a piece of land and build a home for you. We decided to visit Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurgaon. Vikas applied for leave and came to Delhi. The next day, Jyoti suggested let us go to Faridabad. Soniya, my colleague parents are in real estate business. They took us to different plot and when I asked about the agreement. The agreement, it is like cutting a cake. There are many notaries where we can have our agreement done. How much you want to pay in cash? Cash? I want to pay you the whole amount. No, No, I am asking about black! I don’t have such experience. What about getting it registered in court? No problem, the first notary once we get full payment, and then we will destroy this paper. I found everything dubious. You can make some advance payment. We will get back to you and returned. Visited many places as mentioned earlier, everybody was cunning for me and could not select a home for us. There were several problems; brokerage, cash payment, ready to move property.
I went to SBI, Sikandrabad somewhere in the month of Dec 2013 and saw an advertisement for BHS 17 scheme. This was a scheme by Greater Noida Authority run under Uttar Pradesh Government. I applied for the same. After few days, I checked it on the website and found my name on the list. I was very happy that I will get a flat within 3 years by paying 25 lakhs only. I started paying the amount. I have paid 31 lakhs. I was not given possession in 2017. I was still happy government property, no brokerage. In 2018, I was not handed over the flat. We shifted from Uttar Pradesh to Meghalaya. I was eager to take over my flat from authority. I was a regular visitor of the authority webpage. Suddenly, I saw a circular, where it was mentioned that I can withdraw my money with a simple interest of 4%. I made an important choice not to make money but to wait for the flat. Every member of my family was upset with my decision. I counseled them that this is government property and I am sure they will handover soon. During the last vacation, we were in Gurgaon. We decided to go to Authority and inquired about our flat. But, it was Saturday and the office was closed. On Monday, we again visited the office. It was not easy to find Mr. Talwar, the concerned official. He suggested me to complete KYC first. Sir, How will I do that? He shouted rudely, come in line. I have to deal with all. My daughter smiled at the situation. My son talked disrespecting CM & PM and questioned my decision to go for government property and my loyalty towards the ruling party. Anyhow, I could do some formality by requesting the IT support counter and I was again asked to take and handover these papers to Talwar. I took this KYC papers which has just collected uninterestingly. That very day, I got information that the flats will not be handed over. We can withdraw the amount by paying 10% fine. Why fine? Nobody was ready to reply. Why should we pay fine? Authority is not delivering on time and we should pay fine! I went here and there inside authority. From one desk to another desk, from clerks to officer to Manager to AGM and above you are not allowed to meet without prior appointment. Next, I applied online, somebody suggested or I received phone calls from unknown sympathizers with a message if you want to withdraw or take a refund to contact us. Fee 30 % of the amount shall be charged. They justified, We have to pay to officers and these officers have to share the share to the top. I cannot tell you how difficult it was to get a refund! I put a complaint after I received a check of 29 lakh by spending 5lakhs (Black) and paying a fine of 10% additional. I approached the Public Grievance redressal System and like to share that, yet there is no redressal. However, I got a call from AGM and he conveyed to me that you are fortunate to get a money refund from the authority! Keep quite- this my decision before I close this file.
I am not very sure that the choice I made is to right or wrong!