Dilapidated buildings are to be redeveloped under these guidelines
Dilapidated buildings are to be redeveloped under these guidelines
The guidelines of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) with regard to redevelopment of old and dilapidated buildings will now be implemented all over the state.
The Maharashtra government has directed all municipal corporations in the state to conduct a survey of such kind of buildings before the onset of
the monsoon and disconnect water and electricity supply in case their residents refuse to vacate them. After experiencing a number of building collapse incidents in recent years, the civic body has prepared guidelines that allow severing of electricity and water supply connections of such structures. The decision was taken after residents were seen refusing to vacate their houses in dilapidated buildings.
The civic bodies have been asked to follow the BMC guidelines about the redevelopment of old and dilapidated buildings, an official from the urban development department said.
“Corporations have been asked to categorise as ‘C-1’ buildings that are in dire need of repairs and need to be vacated immediately by the residents. ‘C-2 (A)’ category will be given if the building needs to be vacated in the near future for structural repairs and ‘C-2 (B)’ category would mean that structural repairs can be done without its residents vacating the building. The ‘C-3’ category is given for very minor repairs that are needed,” he said.
The ‘C-1’ category buildings will warrant immediate vacation by issuing a notice under section 354 of the BMC Act and the building will be demolished. The relevant authority responsible for repairs will be required to calculate the FSI of each tenant and give the certificate of the same to the tenant and the building owner, the official said.
“The authority will also submit an affidavit before the court stating it would not be responsible for loss of lives and property if there is an injunction by the court,” he said. At the same time, the authority will be required to file a caveat before the court to lift the stay orders.
“The responsibility of shifting people living in dangerous buildings will be with the police. Also, in case of a corporation building, the civic body will need to make an alternate accommodation arrangement,” the official added.
