No power at 504 Kalamboli flats for a over a year

NAVI MUMBAI: As many as 504 flats in a Kalamboli housing society have had no power supply for over a year. The flat owners are in a pickle despite the consumer forum ordering MSEDCL to supply electricity to Neelsiddhi Amarante housing complex three months ago.
Flat owners are forced to live on rent despite owning a house in the same city. In April, the builder and flat owners had approached the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum when MSEDCL asked the builder, Neelsiddhi Developers, to pay Rs 5.64 crore as power distribution costs.
Meanwhile, some buyers had also approached Bombay high court, looking for relief. The HC asked the builder to deposit the money and start power supply before it made a ruling.
“MSEDCL had levied a charge of Rs 5.64 crore for the augmentation of electricity distribution systems at Kalamboli, which I paid, even though this cost should legally be borne by the power company,” said Sandeep Sampat, director, Neelsiddhi Developers.
The builder paid the power authority but the consumer forum ruled that MSEDCL should refund the Rs 5.64 crore and start power supply. MSEDCL bristled at the order and did not start supply.
In September, Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company gave the housing society an NOC and directed MSEDCL to start supply but nothing has come of it yet. “We are unhappy with the dilly-dallying attitude of MSEDCL. Cidco had given the occupancy certificate in July 2013. We are forced to stay on rent and pay EMIs for the new flats,” said Kalpesh Vaidya, one of the flat owners.
Some flat owners said they had spoken to MSEDCL officials, who had said they were contemplating challenging the consumer forum’s ruling in a higher court.
The MSEDCL chief engineer of Bhandup zone was unavailable for comment.