Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) might have a corporate ring to it, but is universal, touching every human connection, including that of residents of a gated community with their management committee (MC). A gated community in Manapakkam has understood this existential truth, hence an “appraisal” of every member of the MC against their self-imposed goals at the beginning of their term. The committee as a whole is assessed against its promises.

Casagrand Irene Owners Welfare Association (CGIOWA) believes it has set a benchmarks through this system. The framework encourages every member to give their best, and those performing well to get re-elected to the committee.

Spread across 5.6 acres with 295 dwelling units across 15 blocks and 13 villas, this gated community in Alandur Zone (Ward 157) of Greater Chennai Corporation is only seven years old.

Solar Power Ninja

Association secretary Lebbaeus Denis’s KPI was around going solar. With flats ranging from 550 sq. ft. to 3500 sq. ft., the social profile of residents is varied, making buy-in a challenge. After multiple meetings, rooftop solar installation took off in three phases.

“Our 300 KWp rooftop solar project today powers the entire community’s common areas including lifts, air conditioners in the club house, water pumps, gym, STP, water treatment plant, garden water pumping, street lights, car parking and all common lightings and EV charging stations. TNEB says we are one of the largest in Tamil Nadu’s residential segment,” says Denis, who also overseas legal and asset management areas of the community.

Of the ₹1.4 crore invested to implement solar rooftop, CGIOWA took ₹1.25 crore from its corpus and the rest from the revenue streams it generates.

“Our annual electricity bill from the common areas generates over 5.13 lakh unit that translates to ₹ 60 lakh. We have begun to see solar PVC as a significant return on the investment we made,” says the secretary.

Currently, only 25% of rooftop terrace has solar panels and the rest of the space is available for future expansion of the solar initiative.

Casagrand Irene has brought out a brochure detailing the process and features: how the Association selected M/s Tamilnadu Energy System as vendor; technical specifications of solar panels and inverter; the break-up of electricity charges. With a message from former MLA T.M. Anbarasan, the brochure was distributed to close to 100 communities in the constituency.

Mr. Keep It Clean

Early this year, a team from Urbaser Sumeet documented best practices in waste management being adopted by the community. The architect of this system is said to be Karthikeyan M., assisted by his wife. The couple had moved in from Adyar, where they were part of many door-to-door drives by Residents of Kasturba Nagar (ROKA).

“In my KPI, I had promised to make the community zero waste,” says Karthikeyan, joint secretary overseeing housekeeping operations and waste management.

He maintains a tracking mechanism that shows how they collect and monitor waste on a daily and monthly basis.

Over the last six months, for instance, “black plastic cover” used to line garbage bins for wet waste disposal has been reduced from 591 kg to zero kg, thereby preventing plastic waste from going to dumping grounds.

Another data-driven drive is reducing “Inseparable Waste” (Red waste and sanitary waste) to below 10 kg per day. Karthikeyan spends at least an hour a day doing rounds and educating residents on how to abide by the rules.

The society also has an organic waste converter and is planning to procure more. “Waste management initiatives at the community are only four years old and we are taking baby steps. We hope to follow the three Rs with the support of residents, housekeeping staff and Urbaser Sumeet,” says Karthikeyan who works with an MNC.

Lebbaeus Denis says CGIOWA functions like a mini-corporate, every process is documented and there is an induction programme before a new committee takes over.

The Water Evangelist

For president Senthil Jagadeesan, interest lies in water. He oversees water conservation initiatives including ensuring runoffs go into the 75 recharge pits in the society and grey water is used in garden and for landscape.

Magesh Giri, joint secretary, also shares the ‘department’ with Senthil, overseeing garden and water management.

Ashok Premesh, treasure, is in-charge of revenue management including compliance. Karthikeyan A.S., vice-president, overseas the security and parking management.

Likewise, Govarthan, an assistant director in the film industry, was brought into the committee seeing the diversity he would bring to the table. Every Pongal, the society turns into a mini-village under his supervision.

Denis says funds is not a constraints for MC members to function effectively. “We go all out to give them what they want and they do perform,” says Denis, a serial entrepreneur. “We have different revenue streams to generate funds. For instance, last year we opened a studio flat with all star facilities. By paying ₹2,000 a day, a resident can use it to accommodate a guest,” he says.

Every year, we give a subsidy of ₹24 lakh to residents depending on the size of the flat as we are generating revenue, he says.

Of the 17 SDG goals, Denis says, the community has ticked seven goals required for community living, and has set its sights on other goals. It is working on getting ISO and LEED certifications.