Blaming the builders squarely for flouting the building
laws, Kochi Corporation has given a clean chit to its officials in most
of the cases. A large number of violations were unearthed by the
Vigilance Wing of the Senior Town Planner’s (STP) Office.

The
corporation has also released the names of 21 officials who had issued
permits in cases identified by the STP officials after much persuasion
by the Local Administration Department. The names were sought for
initiating legal action against the erring officials. The list contains
the names of a former corporation secretary, corporation engineer, town
planning officer, assistant executive engineer and building inspectors
among others.

In as many as 10 cases, the corporation
defended its actions and claimed that its officials cannot be held
responsible for the violations. However, in a few cases where it had
issued notices to the builders for violations, the corporation has
abstained from stating that it was not responsible for the violations.

While
discounting the findings as baseless in some cases, the corporation
also stated that it had issued notices to builders in some cases for
regularising the violations.

In its state-wide drive
carried out last year, the STP had identified 34 cases in Kochi,
including the violation of the Kerala Municipal Building Rules,
deviations in front, side and rear yards of buildings and violations in
setback area from roads. The agency had also detected violations of
Floor Area Ratio and coverage, guidelines of town planning schemes and
additional constructions/floors without permit in Kochi.

In
the case of a commercial building constructed by the Procurator, Arch
Bishops’ House Ernakulam, (Permit no KRP2\556\07.DT.27\3\08), the
parking space proposed in the basement floor did not satisfy the
building rule provisions. The Floor Area Ratio of the building exceeded
the permissible limit as per the area provided in the approved plan, it
was reported. The report also stated that the number of vehicles as
indicated in the plan could not be parked in the basement floor and
scooter parking space was not provided in the approved plan. Moreover,
loading/unloading space as mandated by rules was not proposed in the
approved plan.

Admitting the findings of the STP as
true, the Kochi Corporation said it had issued notice to the builder for
rectifying the defects. It also stated that its officials cannot be
blamed for the violations.

In another case, (Permit
no: MoP1/93/09 dt 3/6/09), the corporation has even tried to dilute the
findings of the vigilance officials. The STP, in its report, had pointed
out that the parking area proposed in the building was converted into
shop area and the construction was carried out by deviating from the
approved plan.

The corporation, while admitting that
it had allowed fixing of rolling shutters in the front portion of the
parking area, maintained that the area could still be used for parking
purposes. While blaming the builder for violating the approved plan, the
corporation maintained that it had issued notice against the illegal
construction.

The
list contains the names of a former corporation secretary, corporation
engineer, town planning officer, assistant executive engineer and
building inspectors among others.