Under Nagamu Purawara program:

Facelift for NHDA apartments

by Mohammed Naalir

The Government has constructed condominiums in Colombo to ease the housing problem of urban people living below the poverty line and the middle income earners. The Condominium Management Authority (CMA) Chairman, M. M. Abul Kalam said that the CMA has also joined hands with the other Government institutions such as the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA), the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and the Local Government bodies specially the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) to implement the `Nagamu Purawara’ Urban Housing Apartment Upgrading Program which was recently inaugurated on the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

According to Kalam the CMA has been entrusted to look into the problems of the Maligawatta Housing Complex and to carry out renovations. Apartments will be painted and toilets will be renovated.

The funds for the `Nagamu Purawara’ program will be raised from donors and well-wishers while the CMA will deploy its labour force.

He said that there are two types of condominiums in Colombo. The condominiums constructed and maintained by the Government and those by the private sector.

The CMA faces many problems in upgrading and maintaining condominium apartments. Carrying out unauthorised expansion and constructing buildings unlawfully obstructing the drainage system, staircases, corridors and the recreation facilities of the apartments.

“Due to unauthorised construction the CMA faces many difficulties in maintaining the condominiums.

“In case of fire, the fire brigades cannot reach the scene on time. The CMA has taken steps to solve these problems”, Kalam said.

Residents must shoulder a certain amount of responsibility in maintaining the standard of the apartments.

Kalam said residents of the condominium apartments could own the unit by settling the total value of the house. Certain occupants do not follow the rules and regulations. They maintain their houses while ignoring the environment.

“Apart from living in the apartment they make no contribution to upgrade the standard of the apartments. They depend on the Government for everything”, he said.

Several issues arising while managing condominiums could be solved if residents stop carrying out unauthorised construction.

He said that several unauthorised constructions have come up at the Maligawatta apartment complex and also at the Grandpass and Armour Street apartments.

CMC officers are given step motherly treatment by apartment owners. Though the CMA sought the assistance of residents of the Maligawatta Housing complex to carry out renovations under the `Nagamu Purawara’ program, residents did not extend their support.

The CMA manages, controls and maintains common amenities of the condominiums with the participation of the residents of the relevant apartments. According to CMA sources some apartments in Colombo are about to collapse. The Soysa Mahal flats and Wekanda flats at Slave Island are 40-years old. The Municipal Housing scheme opposite the Sugathadasa Stadium is 50-years old.

Of the apartments the Soysa Mahal flats is in the worst condition with cracks appearing on walls.Kalam said that the Government plans to construct high rise housing apartments demolishing the old apartments. The residents of the flats will be relocated in suitable places. After the completion of the construction they will be provided residences. The CMA carried out several programs to renovate toilets, sanitary facilities, ventilation and recreation facilities under the `Nagamu Purawara’ program.

Kalam said that the CMA plans to carry out awareness programs for the residents of the condominium apartments. Sign boards will be placed at the main entrance of the apartments seeking the support of everyone to maintain and improve the standards of the housing units. He said even though the walls of the condominium apartments were painted, within a short period posters are pasted on the walls.