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Step to check uncontrolled growth of buildings in Pune: Senior officials to clear projects above 2,000 sqm
Large projects need proper scrutiny and monitoring which would be done by senior officials from now, said Pawaskar.
Pune is witnessing rapid urbanisation with a growing population despite expansion of city boundaries. (Credits: Pexels)
In a bid to check the uncontrolled growth of buildings in the city and speed up completion of real estate projects with faster delivery of homes to buyers, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided that from now on, senior officials will sanction permission for projects above 2,000 sqm, taking away powers from junior officials who were approving all building projects since 2010. The real estate industry welcomed the move saying it would save time required for obtaining permission and also reduce cost of projects, which will be passed on to buyers.
Pune is witnessing rapid urbanisation with a growing population despite expansion of city boundaries. “The old tradition where only deputy engineers had powers to approve building construction has been changed. The tradition led to uncontrolled growth of the city, encroachment and irregularities,” municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram said, adding deputy engineers will now have powers to only approve structures below 2,000 sqm.
As per the new move, building proposals of above 10,000 sqm area or those requiring environment clearance will be approved by superintendent engineers while projects between 2,000 sqm and 10,000 sqm will be approved by executive engineers.
City Engineer Annirudha Pawaskar said the decision will reduce the workload of deputy engineers by at least 30 per cent and help in proper scrutiny of proposals. “Seventy per cent of building proposals are 2,000 sqm, 20 per cent proposals between 2,000-10,000 sqm and 10 per cent above 10,000 sqm,” he said.
Large projects need proper scrutiny and monitoring which would be done by senior officials from now, said Pawaskar. The municipal commissioner said less workload on deputy engineers will enable them to concentrate on other civic works entrusted to them.
Pune city has been witnessing a real estate boom in suburban areas with new constructions on vacant plots while redevelopment projects are underway in the heart of city. Illegal constructions too are coming up in parts of the city.
Kapil Gandhi, real estate developer and managing committee member of CREDAI Pune, said, “The normal time for getting PMC approval for big projects which require environment clearance has been six to 12 months. From now it will drastically reduc with senior engineers scrutinising and approving projects.”
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Former BJP corporator and activist Ujjwal Keskar said PMC has taken an appropriate decision. “This decision will bring a check on building construction in city limits. There was no control over the situation with only deputy engineers approving projects,” he said.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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