BMC Notice to architect for building violations
In perhaps a first, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a notice to the architect of an 11-storeyed building in Juhu, asking him to explain why he allowed his client to carry out construction beyond the approved commencement certificate plans.
This is the same building to which the BMC had sanctioned 386 parking lots for 33 flats. A fortnight ago, the civic body issued a demolition notice for the top-most floor as it did not have clearance from the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
It is mandatory for any building coming up in the vicinity of an airfield to obtain a No Objection Certificate from the AAI.
Civic officials said that the architect was a liasioning officer between the BMC and the client. “It is expected that he looks after the interest of not just his client, but also of the BMC. The architect will have to show if he had brought the illegal construction to the notice of the BMC. If he has not done so, then he is guilty of misconduct,” said a civic official.
The BMC will then inform the Council of Architects which, in turn, will institute an inquiry. If the architect is found guilty, his licence may be revoked.
An architect on the condition of anonymity said that this was possible only if the architect was a member of the council. “Often the design architect is different from the person who obtains permissions from the authorities. In Mumbai, it is common practice to employ two architects -one to design and the other to obtain permissions. If the person is only a licence surveyor, then the BMC can cancel the licence,” he said.
Ashok Pandit said the BMC’s notice clearly mentioned that the builder must demolish the illegal floor within a month or it would do so at the builder’s cost and expense.
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