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28 March 2024

Discovery Gardens chiller switched off... again

There are more than one hundred apartment blocks in Discovery Gardens. (FILE)

Published
By By VM Sathish

Residents of Discovery Gardens are living without air conditioning for two days after the centralised chilling system from the district cooling company was switched off.

A Palm District Cooling System official said the “company is addressing the problem that arose due to technical problems. About 14 buildings in Discovery Garden are having problems and we are trying to rectify it soon.”

He said customers are calling up to know the status. “The issue will be resolved either today or tomorrow. Some buildings are not having air conditioning for more than two days.”

He ruled out that the chilled air supply was deliberately disconnected. “It is due to technical problems.”
 
However, speaking to Emirates 24|7, angry residents said no solution seems to be around as defaulting landlords are not paying the district cooling company’s dues.

“Some landlords or tenants have not paid and the cooling company is penalising all the residents. They have disconnected chilled supply to the entire residential area.”

Two months back, the landlords were given a notice that connection would be cut, if they don’t pay up. I am ready to pay the bill for my apartment. My landlord said he has already paid the bill. It seems only half of the building owners have paid their bill, but the company is penalising even tenants who have paid their bill on time,” said a resident.
 
“This is summer and there are small children in many families. How can they live without air conditioning for two days,” he asked.
 
Residents are using fans to beat the summer heat. The rent includes a service fee that includes chiller and community service charges.

Residents said they are willing to pay the bill, but the company will not accept individual payments. “I am ready to pay Dh2,000 but the company is ready to accept payment for the entire building which runs into several hundred thousand dirhams,” said another resident.
 
The dispute between residents and the centralised air conditioning service provider has been going on for more than two months now.
 
There are more than one hundred apartment blocks in Discovery Gardens.

“Chilled water supplied to this building to service the building’s air conditioning will be disconnected on Tuesday, June 15, 2010,” an earlier poster from the utility service provider said.