Ranka Group — Seepage / dampness issue not addressed for the past one year

Address:

Ranka Colony, Bilekahalli, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore

Dear Sir,
Iam owner of a flat in Ranka Colony, Bannerghatta Road. I have been requesting the ‘Ranka colony building no 3 & 6 residents association’ for the past one year to address the dampness issue which is resulting from top floors and which has caused damage to the area above my cupboard in one of the bedroom.
In May 2019, I have noticed dampness above my cupboard area in one of the bedroom. This dampness has resulted in visible damage in terms of coming out of painting, plastering, forming fungus to the wood, falling of sand particles from beam etc. Hidden damages are still not known but cracks are being developed in wooden cupboard. I have brought it to the notice of my current association - Ranka colony building no 3 & 6 residents association.
Without actually inspecting the area, good amount of time was wasted by Manager and the association in assuming, the dampness is from top floors or crack in wall etc, though I was requesting to get the area checked by an expert.
Iam requesting since May 2019 and I might have sent around 100 email request to the official email ID of the association, have registered in the association’s register at security and have personally requested the Manager of association at association office multiple times. Out of these only couple of times, the manager had facilitated discussion with President of the association . During one occasion in Jan 2020 when President of association has communicated that they are busy with annual day, I genuinely waited for it to complete.
Other than the two occasions where I had met the President of the association, the remaining times, whenever I go, the manager Mr Murthy, was telling the committee will meet in next week and later when I went on that day, he updated that they did not meet and will be meeting in next week. This happened so many times.
Even though I had been to association office so many times, the manager has not facilitated any meeting with the concerned to my block or with the in charge when the president of association was out of station for good amounts of time (in months). For the request, to share their phone numbers, the Manager Mr murthy did not share, for the request to schedule a meeting, he never did, when asked to call committee members from his phone, he said he will talk to them later and update. That update never happened till today. The only answer Iam getting is ‘ there are no updates’.
All these clearly indicate that association and Manager are purposely delaying the matter.
In March 2020, again I reminded the association and in April 2020 there was more dampness seen in the affected area above the cupboard. Also, I noticed there was leakage from drainage or water pipes which are on the external side of the flat and which is exactly back of this dampness. The leakage was happening some where in the fourth floor (I could see from ground floor only) and the drainage or water was literally falling on the approach to car parking area. Picture attached.
After noticing this leakage, suspecting this might be the cause of dampness in my bedroom, I have shown to the Manager and he said that the dampness above my cupboard area is the result of this leakage and also agreed that it has to be done by Association as it is on the external wall.
From April 2020, Iam literally following almost every day and either he says that association has to take call (or) there are no updates from the committee members.
Fearing more damage to my wood work, I had also written to the association suggesting that I will get the work done though the source of the problem is not happening in my flat and I will adjust from the maintenance amount which we are paying once in 6 months. I have reminded the committee on the same and I had also requested the Manager to share the vendor details which he is having but till now there is no response. While iam waiting for their response, they had put my name in the list in Notice board.
The Manager Mr Murthy has also misguided me on the incharge - once he told it is Mr Ganesh and later it is Mr Narayana Swamy. We have not received any communication from association on who is incharge for the building 3 and 6.
On 6th June 2020, when I visited association office again and had asked the manager for a discussion with committee members, he did not facilitate any, did not share phone nos, did not call them atleast from his phone and out of that he has sarcastically suggested me to talk to Mr Narayana Swamy at his residence.
When an association is formed and when there is an office for the same and when the manager is incharge of the office, is this the suggestion one must give and especially to a woman?
I had also brought this communication to the notice of the office bearers and there is no response.
Sir, iam highlighting few points
1. The issue identified is on external structure and that too it is in 4th floor and it is very evident that the association have to fix it. The manager has also said the same thing.
2. There are no dependencies for other flats to get into picture as the leakage is seen on the external wall. More over Iam not demanding to get it done in a short duration. Iam asking for the past one year, till today the association has not even attempted to check the pipelines and for that matter have not inspected the area on the external side at all.
4. The request is to fix the damage, which is not created by me, which is not aesthetic improvement, which is not an addition to the existing structure. It is a requirement and is an essential for me. The damaged area is stinking, caused damage to the internal walls and beams of my structure and it might impact the entire row of flats.
5. I have not been provided approach to any of the committee members, the manager declined to give phone numbers, the committee never responded to my mails, the committee was never available, the manager never schedule meeting with them. Infact he misguided me on the in charge during the non-availability of the President of the association.
6.The earlier associations have fixed similar issues to three other flats during 2018 and 2019. Irrespective of this point, iam emphasizing, it is a damage caused at external level and iam experiencing the result of the damage.
7. Because of the prolonged delay on the part of association, evidential damage has happened in terms of plastering & painting coming out, forming of fungus to the wood. The damage to the wooden cupboard is to be ascertained. There are cracks seen in the cupboard joints. Attaching pictures.
8.Further delay will result in more damage and there are no other options than to fix the leakages/ dampness issues by the association.
9. Suggesting any member to meet at the residences of committee members does not look professional.
10. Not only this issue, there are no responses for any of the requests. While the entire world is cautioning and even when ICMR has communicated, there are PAN sprinklings all around my flat. Till today, the sprinkling marks are not cleaned.
Infact initially I was not added to the mailing list and after multiple requests, I have been added and was deleted in between and again added in last May.