The Pioneer 17.08.2010
MCD to expedite building sanction process
Parvaiz Sultan | New Delhi
Building a dream house in the Capital is going to be less cumbersome as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has come up with a unique idea to expedite the process of sanctioning building plans. The corporation is mulling to develop an online data bank of sanctioned building plans from which a person who intends to construct a house in the Delhi can pick up a suitable architectural design.
The proposal has been okayed by the office of the Delhi Lieutenant Governor and is being examined and analysed by concerned officials of the Engineering and Building Department. The MCD is confident that once the said plan is approved and implemented will bring radical change in the system.
Enthusiastic about the proposed plan, an official of the MCD’s Engineering Department explained that the Capital’s landscape has distinctive characteristics. The plots of a particular size have more or less similar dimensions and under building bylaws, too many options of architectural designs are not possible. “For instance, if there is a piece of land of 100 yards, it must measure 60x30 feet. And if we plan to construct a building on that particular plot under constraints of building bylaws, an architect may hardly suggest 10-15 designs or layout plans. The MCD has approved several building plans of 100 yards. We will upload those sanctioned building plans of various sizes of plots on our websites from where one can choose,” he said.
The MCD official further added that this exercise will help us to sanction a plan in a short span of time and our endeavour will be to clear a design within a week. “This will surely cut short efforts of the civic agency and citizens of Delhi as well. One has to run from pillar to post, but now advance approved building plans will be available. They need to only mention the design number in their application for sanction,” he added.
In addition to this, the MCD has also planned other reforms. With the approval of a building plan, a log book would also be issued with the mention of the concerned junior engineer. “The book will be kept at the construction site. Whenever the concerned JE inspects the site, he will make the observation or remark pertaining to the ongoing construction as to whether the said structure is in compliance with the approved plan. This will help to curb unauthorised construction or encroachment also. More importantly, it will fix responsibility of the officers. In case, the owner does not comply with the building bylaws, the said JE can be made answerable,” he said.
He added the civic body is also planning to allow its employees to provide consultation to private parties, which would enable the MCD to earn revenue. “At present, we cannot advise anyone, but once the proposal is cleared, our staffers would be able to render services to people. At present, if one plans to build a house, he goes to structural engineer or architect for advise, but they don’t do it properly. They conceal some facts, which causes unauthorised construction. But if we are allowed to give counseling, we will certainly give according to law,” he said.
