Corporators come up with plan to legalise unauthorised structures

“If benefits of row houses are applied to small individual plots,it will be a big relief for all those fearing civic action against illegal constructions. PMC does not grant permission for houses on plots less than 2,500 sq ft but several citizens own plots less than this limit and are restrained from constructing houses. They build houses without civic permission,as they cannot meet civic norms,” said CIC chairman Chetan Tupe.

“The ongoing action of PMC against illegal constructions is injustice to citizens who cannot afford houses in housing schemes and are unable to construct their own despite owning small plots,” he added.

The committee has urged the administration to make changes in the proposed DC rules for the new DP and include the provision to making houses on small plots a possibility,Tupe said and added there should be a provision to provide additional paid FSI of 40% for structures on small plots so that total construction of 1.4 FSI is allowed. The buildings should be ground plus one or parking plus two floors and have a maximum height of 10 metre.

“This will check illegal constructions which are mostly on small plots and increase PMC revenue. The civic body should apply development charges as per norms on proposals of constructions on small plots while granting permission. However,existing illegal structures that fulfill norms as per the new provision should be regularised by recovering double the development charges,” he added.

NCP leader Subhash Jagtap said the move would be a success and will set examples for other municipal corporations in the state.

It was a unanimous proposal by corporators of all parties in the Improvements Committee. The administration,without paying heed to resistance to the drive,had intensified it after 11 persons died in a building collapse in Taljai Pathar. A former corporator was arrested for the illegal structure.

Corporators objecting to the civic action had been restrained as they face disqualification if they openly prevent the civic administration from carrying out their responsibilities. Civic activists had welcomed the civic administration action and even urged that local corporator putting up resistance to the drive be videograped,as they had been alleging illegal constructions flourish with support from the political class.