Builders yet to be registered, for illegalities in Mumbai’s Campa Cola Compound case
Even though, the BMC is thinking to regularize the illegal flats at Worli’s Campa Cola Compound, it is still to initiate the much promised project to register builders and hold them accountable in case of illegalities.
In the light of the proposed demolition of around 35 illegal floors at the Campa Cola Compound, the civic administration had proposed the revival of a 2002 plan to be able to register builders and also recommended blacklisting and de-registration of builders, who failed to adhere to the stipulated norms.
The BMC had come up with the observation that the three builders at Campa Cola flats had added illegal floors to the seven buildings without seeking BMC’s permission. In February 2013, the Honourable Supreme Court had ordered demolition of all the floors after the fifth one, holding them as illegal.
A senior civic official was quoted as saying, “We have not yet begun the process of registering builders. But, now that the Maharashtra Housing Act, 2012, has been approved, we will begin the process of scrutinising and registering builders.”
Practicing Engineers Architects & Town Planning Association’s (PEATA), Shirish Sukhatme said, “The registration of builders will ensure that those builders who take advantage of ignorant buyers will be under scrutiny. They will also have the fear of losing their license with the BMC.”
The proposal, it is said, which had been sent to the state government for approval, was to target the builders who had taken advantage of ignorant buyers and sold flats without obtaining the mandatory occupation certificate (OC).
The absence of OC can imply that a builder is not adhering to approved plans, exploiting floor space index and violating fire safety guidelines.
While the BMC reminded the state government of the proposal in 2008 and asked that the mandatory registration by builders must come with information about the size of the company, details of partners and shareholders, office addresses and projects underway, it continues to lie in cold storage.
Senior civic officials said the proposal and repeated reminders were pending with the state urban development department. In the recent proposal, the BMC has also recommended penalty for builders who are indulging in the malpractices. The authority suggested a minimum fine of Rs 5 lakh and maximum of Rs 1 crore, if buildings are constructed without licenses.
In case of the highrises in the Campa Cola Compound, though the residents have received notices for demolition, no action is being initiated against the builders. Residents have alleged that builders Yusuf Patel, BK Gupta and PSB Construction Company raised the height of the buildings beyond the approved plan.
Source: The Indian Express
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