Simpler Process Awaits Flat Owners In Pune To Regularize Unauthorized Constructions
Regularization of unauthorized changes made internally by flat owners may soon be simpler with the civic body planning to do away with the practice of obtaining no objection certificates from housing societies.
If the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has its way, the flat owners can directly approach the civic body to regularize renovations such as closing an open balcony in properties after paying compounding charges.
The civic body's move comes in the wake of the state government issuing guidelines to regularize the unauthorised structures in 2017. The urban development department rules allow illegal structures to be legalized on payment of a penalty. All constructions carried out before December 31, 2015 in residential, commercial and industrial zones can be considered for the scheme.
PMC statistics reveal that over 100 applications have reached the building permission department for regularizing unauthorised changes. Most of the applications are from private bungalow owners. Of the total applications, nearly 20 have been compounded.
City engineer Prashant Waghmare said, "Even individual owners who have made internal changes in their flats can get them regularised. It was mandatory for them to attach an NOC from the housing society concerned while applying for compounding. But many flat owners were finding the process tough, as the housing societies were not providing them with the NOCs. The PMC will relax the condition."
The state notification had clarified the types of land on which the constructions can be regularized. If an unauthorized construction is on a land reserved for public purposes, it will be considered for regularization. The rider is that the urban local body shifts the reservation on another plot or deletes it. The entity seeking regularization will need to pay the costs involved in the process.
A civic body assessment states that around 6,000 illegal constructions in the city can benefit from the government's move. "It will reduce the hassles of the flat owners," said Vijay Sagar, president of consumer organization Grahak Panchayat.
"Disputes in managements of some societies can't be ruled out, for which some flat owners suffer. But the percentage is not high. The societies usually provide the no objection certificates," said Suhas Patwardhan of the Pune District Co-operative Housing Federation.
Source: Economic Times, Pune
