Army, civilians spar over canteen

NERUL: The civilians who bought flats in the Army Welfare Society (AWS), which became Army Co-operative Housing Society (CHS) in April 2011, are engaged in a legal tussle with the army authorities over the canteen.
The Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) built the Army Welfare Society (AWS) in Nerul in 1995. AWS signed a leave and licence agreement on December 1, 2008 with the then general-officer-in-command (GOC) Major General RK Hooda for shop nos 1, 2 and 4 to run a canteen for defence personnel for three years.The agreement expired on November 31, 2011.
The CHS served the GOC a legal notice on April 2, 2012 to vacate the premises. "Since we have not succeeded in getting the premises vacated so far, we decided to file a civil suit with the lower court," said Umesh Sharma, chairman of CHS.
The rent decided earlier was Rs17,533. The society committee members now want the rent revised. "We offered them a rate of Rs45 per sq ft in 2011 with 5 per cent hike every year. But they are neither willing to revise the rent nor are they leaving the premises," said Sharma while stating that the rent is much lower than prevalent market rate in the area.
"We are not obliged to offer the premises for canteen indefinitely at a stagnant rent," he pointed out.
Only a few army personnel are using the canteen services now. "With limited revenue, it has become very difficult for us to maintain the society. On the one hand, residents, many of whom are retired, oppose any hike in maintenance charges.
Also, the army doesn't want civilian residents to use the canteen. "Why should the majority pay for a service enjoyed by a few?" Sharma questioned.
In his letters to Lt Col Arun Nayyar, ADST, canteen officer, headquarters, Mumbai sub-area, Sharma has pointed out that the canteen has encroached upon the space outside the shops.
In a letter dated November 23, 2011, Nayyar has stated that the proposed rate of Rs45 per sq ft is unacceptable and will eventually lead to closing of the canteen. On January 3, 2012, the colony members wrote to Nayyar, expressing their inability to renew the agreement and requested them to vacate the premises, but they didn't.
The canteen authorities approached AWHO, and they were directed not to vacate, in a letter dated September 25, 2012, a copy of which is with TOI. The agreement is between AWS and the canteen. Why is AWHO interfering?" asked Sharma, adding, "We have a suit in state consumer forum for conveyance and are awaiting orders."
Repeated attempts to reach GOC and other army officials failed.
Army vs civilians
* The colony was built in 1995. There are 11 towers and 38 row houses. 9 towers have 48 flats and 2 towers have 24 flats each.
* There are 518 units in total, out of which civilians live in 326 houses and the defence personnel live in 192 (107 out of station).
* The rent decided earlier for the canteen was Rs17,533 (Rs45 per sq ft). The society committee members now want the rent revised or the canteen premises be vacated