The Times of India 13.08.2010
'Swimming pools are passed off as lily ponds'
MUMBAI: Construction industry sources have alleged that some BMC officers in the building proposals department, and those higher up in the hierarchy at civic headquarters, have made crores by allowing builders to carry out gross violations in their projects—parking space allotted on every floor and later converted into ‘saleable’ apartment area is one glaring example.
Municipal commissionerSwadheen Kshatriya said on Thursday that he would take up the matter with the state housing department and review the policy of giving builders permission to construct car decks on every floor.
Sources said the first such building came up in Powai near Chandivali about three years ago. “The carpet area of the flat is less than 2,000 sq ft, but the builder sold it by showing a built-up area of 5,000 sq ft by getting the huge parking space enclosed,’’ they said.
On Pali Hill, an upcoming luxury tower has a car parking podium between the first and fourth floors. There is a void between the fifth and the tenth floors, while the apartments start from the 11th floor and up to the 17th floor. Each flat, which covers an entire floor, has a carpet area of 2,000 sq ft with an additional 1,500 sq ft for a car parking slot. However, the builder is showing a saleable built-up area of 5,000 sq ft by quoting a price of Rs 40,000 per sq ft.
Near Mount Mary church in Bandra (west), the BMC has permitted a 25-storey-plus skyscraper on a narrow plot with barely any open spaces and permitted car decks on each floor. According to the building plans available with this newspaper, the living area of the duplex is barely 1,500 sq ft in size. However, the builder is showing a saleable area of over 8,000 sq ft by also showing a private pool, golf screen and terrace garden in an area meant for parking cars.
Close to Dadar railway station, a developer constructing a 30-storey commercial tower has already enclosed the space on each floor that was shown as a car deck in the building plans. The glass facade tower is coming up under the benign gaze of the local BMC office.
A prominent architect said there is no provision in development control regulations for car decks or for private swimming pool with each apartment. “Developers have found a way for its approval by calling the swimming pool a lily pond. Why does the lily pond have dimensions and depth needed for swimming pools? Moreover, why should a lily pond meant for beautification and aesthetic purposes be situated behind the toilet ducts and not seen from any part of the house?’’ he wondered.
