Corporators blame BMC for delayed OCs

Notice creates uproar amongst other corporators; R A Rajeev promises to
make system more transparent.

THE Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) house proceedings witnessed an
uproar on Monday afternoon as corporators across all parties objected to a
notice of motion passed by BJP Corporator Yashodhar Phanse. The notice of
motion pointed out irregularities faced by residents and builders for the
procurement of Occupancy Certificates (OC) and basic civic amenities for
their housing complexes.

Phanse's notice sent on Octo ber 17 cited Sundervan Complex in Andheri as an example of several other housing complexes and individual buildings that have been waiting for basic amenities for several years.

It stated that even though the construction of the complex was complete and
it has an OC, it did not still have basic amenities like proper sewage line
and drinking water facilities.

Phanse claimed that it was mandatory for the civic body to provide basic
housing facilities like roads, street lighting, water connections and
sewerage lines for all legal housing complexes in the city. Stressing on the
importance of an OC he added that it was the only legal that gives people
the evidence to prove the ownership of his/her flat.

Justifying his claims, another corporator Sheetal Mhatre from the Congress
cited an example of a colony named Blue Star in Borivali, which had to wait
for 22 years to get its OC. "There seems to be huge under dealings within
the corporation about the issuing of certificates. Officials seem to be
issuing them at their own whims and fancies," alleged Mhatre. She also
pointed out that though there are around 2,200 blacklisted builders and
developers in the city, the BMC has never taken any action against any of
them. She also appealed to the Additional Municipal Commissioner R A Rajeev
to look into the matter urgently.

According to BMC figures, about five per cent of residential buildings in
Mumbai do not have occupancy certificates. In other words, it implies that
the builder has not fulfilled the necessary requirements for the complex and
that the residents are living there illegally.

Responding to the notice of motion, Rajeev agreed that there were
irregularities within the civic body and promised to fix them in the next
six months. He also promised to take action against corrupt officers and
also penalise erring builders.

Rajeev explained that the allotment of OC and providing of basic amenities
occurs according to a report given by the Prakash Mehta Committee in 1996,
where to provide basic amenities, the BMC gives two-thirds of the total
amount from its budget and the concerned housing society gives the remaining
one-third. The BMC budget allotment is Rs 1.20 crore.



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