The Times of India              30.01.2014

NMC panel wants occupancy certificate norms scrapped

NAGPUR: Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), for the first time, initiated a measure to prevent unauthorized constructions at the initial stage itself. Within weeks, however, corporators began to oppose the move. The Nehru Nagar Zonal Committee on Wednesday passed a resolution demanding that the civic chief revoke the circular making occupancy certificate mandatory for getting water and sewage disposal connection for new buildings.

Following consistent rise in unauthorized constructions and incidents of building collapse or catching fire, municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane had issued a circular on January 3 for effective implementation of occupancy certificate norm. Chairperson of Nehru Nagar Zone Mangala Gavre mooted the proposal to oppose the move in the meeting of zonal committee and got support from nine corporators.

Gavre later told reporters neither the NMC nor state government could stop issuing new water connection. "NMC had made occupancy certificate mandatory taking the base of a Supreme Court's order that was for big cities like Mumbai witnessing large number of high rise buildings in unauthorized manner. Nagpur has large number of unauthorized layouts. Government had okayed regularization of these layouts. Water connection is basic requirement and should not be stopped," she said.

However, Gavre had no answers when asked whether zonal committee was supporting unauthorized constructions. In the circular, Wardhane made it clear that occupancy certificate should be issued within a week of receiving the application to prevent inconvenience to the citizens. Now, the zonal committee's resolution will be forwarded to civic chief who will take final decision.

NMC sources told TOI builders are upset with the occupancy certificate rule and are lobbying for its scrapping. "Occupancy certificate is mandatory according to developmental control regulations implemented since 2001 and also as per the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act. The guidelines were framed for effective implementation of the rules," said an official.