The Hindu 01.03.2010
Modifications were carried out frequently: BBMP
Staff Reporter
‘Unauthorised changes have taken place
post-clearance’
BANGALORE: The Carlton Towers management had made several modifications at different intervals to the original plan after the building was approved by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
Though the civic body had regularised a few alterations earlier pertaining mainly to interiors comprising railings, passages, the violations had continued with modifications being carried out frequently, said an official of the BBMP who inspected the building. Several unauthorised changes had taken place in the building post clearance, the official said.
The BBMP submitted several documents pertaining to Carlton Towers to the Ulsoor sub-division police on Saturday evening. The BBMP officials said. “Documents such as Occupancy Certificate, Sanction Plan, Clearance Certificate, Completion Plan and deviations from approved plan of Carlton Towers have been submitted to the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Ulsoor sub-division) for investigation,” Narasimha Murthy, Joint Director (1) of Town Planning, BBMP, told The Hindu here on Sunday.
Soon after the accident which claimed nine lives, Assistant Commissioner of Police G.B. Manjunath, who is heading the investigation team, requested the Town Planning authorities of the BBMP to furnish relevant documents. The Building Plan was sanctioned and a No Objection Certificate was issued in 1994.
In 1999, the Occupancy Certificate was issued. But the management had violated several conditions pertaining to the interiors in the building, which were later regularised by the BBMP. Also, several hoardings were illegally put up on the premises of the building, Mr. Narasimha Murthy said.
Maintenance fee
The police said that the building owners’ association was collecting several lakh rupees annually from the tenants of the building collectively towards maintenance charges.
A senior police official said the association was collecting Rs. 3 per sq ft every month for maintenance, which covered water supply, security, lift and house keeping, among others. Yet, complaints had been pouring in against the poor maintenance of the building and the association had not convened any meeting for the last couple of months.
B.G. Chengappa, Director, Department of Fire and Emergency Services, said: “The department needs at least a week to complete the investigation. The investigation report will be submitted to the officials concerned.” The department has sent a report regarding the incident to the State Government.
