6. In CC No. 60 of 2016, Surender Chauhan & Anr. Vs. M/s Unitech Limited & Anr. decided on 10.02.2017, the complainants had booked a residential flat with the OP in this very project namely ‘Unitech Cascades’. Since the OP failed to deliver possession of the said flat, they approached this Commission seeking refund of the amount paid by them with compensation. The complaint was resisted by the OP primarily on the following grounds: (i) There was major disruption in the construction activities due to agitations and Dharans by farmers whose land was acquired by the Noida Authority and the said agitations had resulted in slackening of the availability and the supply of raw-material. (ii) Vide Notification dated 14.9.2016 issued by Ministry of environment and Forest (MOEF), Central Govt. imposed certain restrictions and prohibitions on new projects or activities based on their potential environmental impact unless prior environmental clearances were obtained. The procedure for obtaining the approvals and sanctions led to delay in the construction schedule. (iii) There was acute shortage of labour, water and other raw-material. (iv) Writ Petitions were filed by the farmers before the Allahabad High Court challenging the acquisition of land by the State of Uttar Pradesh. (v) Some of the towers in this project have already been constructed whereas construction is going on in the remaining towers. As regards Tower-2 in which flat allotted to the complainants was to be located, it is alleged that external and internal plaster are going on in the said tower. It was also alleged that in view of clause 4.c of the terms and conditions of allotment in the event of delay, the allottees entitled only to the agreed compensation of Rs.5/- per sq.ft. of the super area per month. All the aforesaid contentions were rejected by this Commission and the OP was directed to refund the entire principal amount alongwith compensation in the form of simple interest @ 10% per annum. 7. The complaint is therefore, disposed of with the following directions: (i) The OP shall refund the entire principal amount of Rs.37,48,980/- to the complainant alongwith compensation in the form of simple interest @ 10% per annum with effect from the date of each payment till the date of full refund. (ii) The OP shall also pay a sum of Rs.25,000/- as the cost of litigation to the complainant. (iii) The payment in terms of this order shall be made within three months from today. |