The Hindu   27.08.2012

Illegal constructions on the rise

Despite the threat of demolitions and making drinking
water connections linked to the mandatory occupancy certificates, the
GHMC is confronted with increasing instances of brazen unauthorised
constructions in different parts of the twin cities.

These
constructions are happening because of either the local leaders
colluding with the field staff or by simply threatening the supervisory
town planning staff in the circles and getting away especially at the
circle-level, admit senior officials.

“Rampant
illegal constructions have been on the rise in the last couple of years.
We are unable to keep a check on them with staff shortage being a prime
reason,” they say.

Such is the deficiency at the
ground level that lower level officials are merely being moved from one
circle to another even when facing serious charges. A proposal to
strengthen the regulatory framework of the town planning wing continues
to do the rounds with the upper echelons of the government.

As
a stop-gap arrangement in the meantime, senior officials are mulling to
go for formation of multi-sector teams with members drawn from the
other wings of the municipal corporation at the circle-level to keep a
watch on the unauthorised constructions and also take action.

Critics,
however, point out that it is lack of taking any decisive action
against unauthorised constructions despite having adequate powers which
has led to the present state.

Senior officials are
now promising to take penal action with regard to buildings which have
not taken the occupancy certificates ever since the common building
rules came into force in 2007.

While there could be
hundreds of buildings given permission in the last five years, a survey
is currently on to identify whether these constructions have taken the
OCs. And, also whether they have illegally converted buildings permitted
for residential usage to commercial activities or if extra unauthorised
floors were built.

Property tax

Anywhere
between 50 and 100 such buildings are being identified in each circle
by the month-end to be followed up by penal action such as sealing or
demolish them. Two hundred per cent property tax against such buildings
is another weapon to be unleashed.

“We are not going
to bother about minor deviations but we intend to send a tough message
against illegal usage conversion and extra floors,” say senior
officials.

•  ‘Lack of decisive action against these constructions has led to the present state’
• Officials now promise to take penal action against buildings that have not taken OC since 2007