55,000 buildings in city don’t have OC
MUMBAI: While Wednesday’s fire brought to light how people were living in Crystal Tower in Parel for six years despite not having an occupation certificate, there are 55,000 more such buildings in the city, according to civic estimates.
An occupation certificate allows a developer to let flat buyers occupy the building
and ensures the building gets a water connection and mention in property charges.
According to housing experts, most buildings fail to get an OC as they don’t fulfil the conditions laid down by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) or carry out illegal alterations.
Explaining the procedure, a senior official from BMC’S development plan department said, “We inspect the entire structure to ensure if the construction has been carried out according to the approved plan. OC is not issued in cases where a developer constructs more than what was approved, until it is regularised. While we continue with the legal
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action against residents, we charge them property tax and for water supply. The approximate number of such buildings is 55,000, which includes buildings that are under-construction or are occupied.”
For buildings that don’t have an OC, BMC levies higher property and water tax as penalty. Legal action is also initiated against residents for unauthorised occupation.
Shirish Sukhatme, a citybased senior architect, said, “Developers continue to flout norms and carry out illegal alterations to increase the carpet area to get more money on the increased space. Usually, there is a substantial difference in the approved plan and actual building. Such projects remain stuck for years, but developers sell them to gullible buyers without regularising them. Crystal Tower is one such example.” Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta told HT, “There are several cases where the projects don’t get OCS for reasons such as unpaid dues or construction carried out beyond what was allowed. Our request is residents should insist on an OC before occupation for their own safety.”