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Monday, August 18, 2025
IndiaSubscriberWrites: Non ethical builders

SubscriberWrites: Non ethical builders

Amid India’s property surge, unethical developers trap homebuyers in dependency—controlling utilities, delaying ownership, and turning dream homes into captive markets.

Iqbal Malik
Iqbal Malik
Iqbal Malik is a researcher, educator, and environmentalist.

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The Indian real estate market is booming, driven by rapid urbanization, rising incomes, and an aspirational middle class eager to invest in property — not only as a financial asset but also as a symbol of stability, security, and personal achievement. New townships, high-rise complexes, and gated communities are springing up across the country, transforming skylines. 

However, there are unscrupulous builders who cut corners, mislead buyers, delay projects indefinitely or get utility contracts in their name instead of  individual house owners. 

The Indian real estate market is booming  experiencing a remarkable boom, driven by rapid urbanization, rising incomes, and an aspirational middle class eager to secure a place they can call their own. More and more individuals and families, across cities big and small, are seeking to invest in property — not only as a financial asset but also as a symbol of stability, security, and personal achievement. In response to this surging demand, new townships, high-rise complexes, and gated communities are springing up across the country, transforming skylines and reshaping once-quiet suburbs into bustling urban hubs.

However, the sector is far from uniform in its practices. Alongside ethical developers who uphold high standards of quality, transparency, and timely delivery, there are also unscrupulous builders who cut corners, mislead buyers, or delay projects indefinitely. This dual reality makes it essential for buyers to approach the market with both enthusiasm and caution — doing their due diligence, verifying credentials, and seeking trustworthy partners before making one of the most significant investments of their lives.

  A Case study   

While developing a sprawling township, a shrewd developer quietly ensured that every major utility contract was handed over to a company owned by his own brother. The thousands of families who had invested their life’s savings to own a home in this dream project soon discovered that their daily comforts, and even their basic needs, were now at the mercy of this closely knit family network. What was presented as a community built for convenience and modern living had, in reality, become a captive market, where every bill paid and every service rendered quietly fed into the developer’s extended family’s coffers. 

You might ask, how is that even possible? The developer  Instead of facilitating individual connections for the property owners, he cleverly arranged for all utility service connections issued in his own company’s name. This meant that every single household, no matter how much they had invested in their home, was entirely dependent on the developer’s company for the most basic necessities of life.

The residents never receive any official electricity bills in their own names. This means they are deprived of one of the most basic and universally accepted proofs of address — a valid document that could otherwise be used for crucial identity-related processes.

Most residents remain quiet, choosing to go about their daily routines without openly acknowledging the problem. A few discuss it in hushed tones within the privacy of their living rooms, careful not to be overheard. Only a small number have the courage—and the determination—to confront the injustice head-on, willing to take the risks involved in setting things right.

They have an ambitious vision for the future of their colony — one that balances environmental sustainability with social well-being. They want to introduce a decentralized system for managing solid waste, supported by vermicomposting units for biodegradable matter and leaf composting pits to turn fallen foliage into nutrient-rich soil. Water management is another key priority: rainwater harvesting structures to recharge the groundwater table, a double-piping system to separate potable water from recycled greywater, and community-wide water conservation measures to ensure not a drop is wasted.

The plans extend to green and inclusive spaces, including pet-friendly parks, solar power systems to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, reliable generator backup during outages, and even a dedicated bus service to improve mobility. They envision a community kitchen to encourage shared meals and reduce food waste, as well as infrastructural upgrades to make every corner of the colony accessible to people with disabilities. Above all, they seek a fundamental reform — that electricity bills should be issued directly by the government utilities, ensuring transparency and accountability.

It is an inspiring list of changes, but each step forward feels like a climb against gravity. The vision is clear, yet the path ahead is steep — an uphill task that will demand perseverance, unity, and relentless effort from everyone involved.   Rules

Cancellation & Refun

In an ethical business a  builder builds to sell and a  buyer buys to become an owner. In an unethical business the builder instead of letting an unsuspecting   buyer become an owner makes him a tenant. As the builder has swapped ownership with tenantship the  following couplet is apt for him-   ‘daaman pe ko.ii chhii.nT na KHanjar pe ko.ii daaG, tum qatl karo ho ki karaamaat karo ho’.

These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.

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