M'rashtra to tighten screws on builders on completion document

Maharashtra government has decided to revise the development control regulations (DCR) to make them more stringent so that it becomes binding on builders to acquire Building Completion Certificate in a time-bound period, the Council was informed today.
Delay in issue of Building Completion Certificate (BCC) by Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) often allows builders to construct additional floors in a structure.
DCR refer to a set of rules formulated by the Mumbai civic body for building activity and development works in areas under its jurisdiction.
The government admitted in the Legislative Council that builders delay in seeking BCC, a key document that declares a new building has been constructed and completed according to all the safety norms and regulations.

Speaking during a calling attention motion in the Upper House, NCP's Kiran Pawaskar alleged officials of the MCGM are hand-in-gloves with builders and this allows the latter to deliberately delay taking the BCC from the civic body so that additional floors can be constructed.
"The government needs to amend the DCR and make it stringent to ensure there is no threat to residents due to additional construction," Pawaskar said.

"There are many old buildings that go for redevelopment under Rule 33 (7) and 33 (9) of the DCR. Builders get the partial Occupation Certificate so that they continue to have the right of using additional FSI (construction right) and add more floors.

"To stop this and ensure there is no threat to the lives of existing residents, the government needs to make sure BCC is acquired within a specific period of time," he said.
Ranjit Patil, Minister of State for Urban Development Department, while replying to Pawaskar, said, "It has been noticed builders wait for new policies from the government to construct additional floors by delaying taking BCC."
"To stop them from doing so and to ensure the safety of residents, the government will call a meeting within eight days and decide the time-frame in which BCC should be obtained by builders. The government will then amend the DCR in such a way that builders are made to take BCC in a fixed time-frame," Patil said.

Later talking to PTI, Pawaskar said, "If the government sets up a time-frame to obtain BCC, it will reduce chances of building collapses, curb corruption (by civic officials) and deter builders from undertaking extra constructions.