BMC forms a new policy for old buildings

Mumbai: BMC has formed a separate policy for dilapidated buildings which are under its jurisdiction.

As per the new policy, the BMC has made it compulsory for the occupier or owner to submit the structural audit of the building.

The policy will be uploaded on the BMC website in December to invite suggestions and objections from citizens.  

Initially, the civic body had only one committee to handle issues related to dilapidated buildings but now BMC has formed a total five committees to deal with appeals related to such buildings.

Of the five committees, four will cater for appeals related to private buildings and one for municipal buildings. The policy recently received a green signal and will be implemented to ensure speedy vacation of dilapidated buildings and avoid building collapses in future.

The policy makes it compulsory for the tenants to inform the civic building and factory department about the status of structure. The policy is only applicable to private and municipal buildings which are under the civic body’s jurisdiction.  

BMC has made it mandatory to get the structural audit done by registered a BMC structural engineer.

If a building certified as non-dilapidated collapses in future then registration of that particular engineer who certified the building will be cancelled and the BMC will initiate legal process against the person for the same.

Once a building receives notice from the civic body then it is the owners/tenants’ responsibility to submit the structural audit to BMC within 30 days.

BMC will later examine the status and decide the category of the structure.