Explained: Rs 500 crore gone down the drain as twin towers reduce to rubble

The Supertech Twin Towers in Noida, India’s tallest building Noida Twin Towers, demolished on 28 August after a directive from the Supreme Court of India.

Beginning of project and demolition order

The company launched the construction of the project known as Emerald Court. The project was started in the year 2000. The project included the building of 3, 4 and 5 BHK flats. The Supertech Limited claimed that it invested Rs 25 crore in land buying for this project and another Rs 25 crore was invested in the obtaining of layout sanctions. The realtor bought 8,000 square meters of land for Apex and Ceyane in 2009 along with other land parcels of 46,000 square metres on which Emerald Court’s 11 residential towers were standing, according to the Hindustan Times. It took five years to build these two 102 and 97 meters tall towers. However, the Allahabad high court first ordered demolition in 2014 for violations of building regulations. Later, the Supreme Court on August 31, 2021 upheld the Allahabad HC ruling and ordered the demolition of the buildings.

Supertech changes plan, problem begins

The troublesome story began after Supertech changed the plans. Each building was now supposed to have 11 stories instead of nine. In fact, the project was revised thrice for increasing the number of floors. The changed plan also included two more towers that would rise to 40 floors above the ground, according to sources. The latter two became the main bone contention for decade long legal battle between the residents and Supertech. If the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (Noida) wanted it could have changed the land use and allowed the construction of the building as per rules but that was not done.

Residents’ objection to the changes

The building plan showed 14 towers and nine floors initially but later the plan was revised and the builder was allowed to construct 40 floors in each tower. The area where the towers were built was to be made into a garden as per the original plan. Following this, residents of Supertech Emerald Court society went to the Allahabad High Court in 2012 stating that the construction was illegal, according to the NDTV. The petitioners argued that the Supertech group violated norms to sell more flats and enhance their profit margins. Accordingly, in 2014, the court directed the authority to demolish the towers within four months (at its own expense) from the date the order was filed.

Rs 500 crore gone in nine seconds

The demolition of the ‘twin-towers’ took place at 2:30 pm on Sunday. While the buildings were brought down in nine seconds, the dust cloud from the demolition took about 12 minutes to settle. The Rs 20 crore demolition project has sent Rs 500 crore of buildings down the drain. The buildings were razed with 3,700 kg of explosives through a ‘waterfall method’. The Noida authority said that 28,000 metric tonnes of construction will be generated out of this demolition and it will be treated at the Sector 80 treatment plant.

Supertech defends twin towers construction

Supertech chairman RK Arora issued a statement and defended the construction, saying there was “no deviation from the building plan”. Arora said that the buildings were constructed only after making full payment to the authorities and approval by the Noida Authority in 2009. Arora also assured Supertech home buyers that SC’s order won’t affect any other ongoing project. “We made ₹450 crore investment in construction material including steel, cement, sand, labour, bank loan, interest and other expenses in these two towers named Apex and Ceyane. We have already borne ₹500 crore cost in 2014, when Allahabad high court ordered demolition. However it does not mean it will affect other projects because we will continue to deliver units in other projects smoothly,” said RK Arora, chairman of Supertech Limited, according to the Hindustan Times.

No guilty officials punished

While the SC came down heavily on Supertech administration for allegedly colluding with Noida authorities to construct the towers in violation of building norms, there has been no action against the officials, say various sources. No official from either Supertech, Noida authorities, or the fire department, has been lodged in jail. According to an India Today report, as many as 11 Noida authority officers are under the radar. Some important officials who have been suspended include the planning manager, planning assistant, UP State Industrial Development Corporation’s planning assistant, and Yamuna Authority’s general planning manager. The town planner has also been suspended, and three former chief fire officers are also listed in the FIR by a UP Police SIT, according to the report.

Doctors take

Doctors suggest that people living nearby, especially those suffering from respiratory diseases should avoid the area for a few days if possible. Massive dust pollution can lead to itching in the eyes, nose and skin; coughing, sneezing, breathing difficulty, lung infection, nasal congestion, asthmatic attacks and aggravate heart problems, reported the Hindustan Times. Dr Jugal Kishore, head of Community Medicine department at the Safdarjung Hospital, said, “The dust particles will remain suspended for quite some time in case of low wind speed. People suffering from respiratory problems — chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and bronchitis — should avoid the area, if possible.” “People should take precaution and keep a buffer stock of medicines. Use N-95 masks and eyeglasses till pollutants dissipate. Wear full-sleeve clothes and avoid morning walks for a few days. Consult doctors if problems worsen,” Dr Yudhyavir Singh, Assistant Professor, Critical Care, AIIMS, said, reported HT.

Reactions of the residents, citizens

Residents expressed mixed reactions towards the SC’s demolition order. Not only flat buyers but netizens also reacted over the development with mostly calling for action against the government authorities who allowed the illegal construction in the first place. “We respect the SC order but to save the money spent on the construction of this building should have been handed over to the government that can rehabilitate the city’s homeless people or it could have turned into a hospital or any other charitable cause instead of wasting so much funds,” said Alok Singh, a founder member of the Active Citizen Team, reported the Hindustan Times. Another resident Sunil Mishra from Sector 135 reported to have said, “SC order gives a lesson to all of those, who take laws for granted and go to the extreme to flout rules to make money thereby cheating the investors or homebuyers.”