After-effects of the Adarsh scam-Building Plan takes a long time to get clearances
Developers are reeling from the after-effects of the Adarsh scam. After-effect of Adarsh Society Scam, BMC and state government departments refusing to clear files seeking approvals for major construction projects. New municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar has also tightened the screws on the manner in which files are being cleared and is believed to be working on a slew of dos and don’ts to ensure some fair play while granting approvals.
Since he took over as civic chief in the first week of January, Kumar has not cleared a single file put up by builders seeking various concessions. Officials in the building proposal department, knowing the commissioner’s no-nonsense attitude, are scared of putting such files before him.
The municipal commissioner enjoys discretionary powers to grant concessions or condone certain constructions that do not fall under the purview of the Development Control Regulations. Civic sources said some builders misuse these concessions to make a fast buck.
“Everything is in limbo,” said a developer. It now takes a long time to get clearances from the BMC and Mantralaya for even routine proposals. “Everyday, about 20 to 25 files are placed before the commissioner for approval. In the past one month, at least 500 files are lying in different BMC departments,” said a developer who didn’t wish to be identified.
According to Kumar, he was busy preparing the civic budget and the new property tax structure. “I will look at construction files within a few days,” he said. BMC sources said the commissioner could do away with all concessions that have been routinely granted to builders over the past two decades. Certain areas in a building — like the lobby, basement, staircases, ducts and flowerbeds — are not included in the Floor Space Index calculations, which stipulates how much can be constructed on a plot. But many builders charge the flat buyer for these areas.
Builders said regulations are so convoluted that violations can be found in any project. “One can find something wrong with every project. Every project needs 60 to 70 approvals and builders sometimes start work without the necessary approvals. This is how developers are caught on the wrong foot,” said a builder.
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