After snubs and all-round criticism, the Urban Development Department has realised the lacuna existing in its diktat issued some time ago for passing new building plans by the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC). The Department would review and even vacate the order considering “impracticality” involved into it which says the RMC would pass building plans in 1:3 ratio in respect to issuance of occupancy certificates.
Urban Development Minister CP Singh on Wednesday admitted to the loophole into its earlier order and hinted to review it. “We have come across several complaints regarding this. We will sort out the issue soon. It would be reviewed and if needed, would be scrapped,” the Minister told The Pioneer.
The provision has come into existence following the Jharkhand High Court order, which had directed the RMC through the Department to cut water and power connections to such buildings for which the occupancy certificate is not issued. This prompted the Department to stop passing new building plans for Ranchi. Nevertheless, it later came with a vent and put condition that one building plan would be okayed only after okaying at least three occupancy certificates.
The order came as a shocker for many. “How can they do thisIJ Suppose I am a new builder and have not built any building before, how can I get my building plan approved if this condition persistsIJ Also, there is no waiting list kind of thing with the RMC which can put the applications coming for the same in public domain and give an idea about which building plan is going to be approved next with transparency,” said an office-bearer of ‘Credai’ requesting anonymity.
On the other when RMC CEO Prashant Kumar was contacted and asked about the objections, he replied that the provision was for the RMC and aimed to prioritise the issuance of occupancy certificates. “This is for the RMC and a part of internal regularisation. This was to speed up issuance of occupancy certificates,” said the CEO.
Occupancy certificate is a prerequisite for allowing occupants to start residing in any building and gets issued only after a builder submits completion certificate with the RMC guaranteeing fulfillment of all the necessary requirements in the building and after being inspected. But this has been a major roadblock in the city. Facts suggest since 2009 when the RMC has overtaken charge of issuing occupancy certificates from earlier RRDA, paltry nine such applications have got stamped till 2014.
RMC also admits the dismal show. “About 10-12 applications for occupancy certificates would have been pending right now. It has been slow and that is why this system was kept in place. This would revamp the system and prioritise things for the RMC so that the corporation does not remain busy in approving new plans while forgetting about issuance of occupancy certificate,” said Town Planner Gajanand Ram.
However question remains as it is for getting a new building plan passed. “It was like a ‘Tuglaqi Farman’. If the RMC starts clearing applications pending for occupancy certificates it will take two years. That means till then all the new projects would have to wait! Also, there is no waiting list kind of things which would ascertain which new building plan is going to be passed after three occupancy certificates is issued. This would create another form of corruption as bottleneck would remain at the point where new plan is approved,” said architect Sajeev Jha who was present in the meeting held on March 30 with the RMC.
Jha revealed that in the meeting the RMC bosses were also convinced with grievances expressed and had assured that they would take the matter back to the Urban Development Department. “Issuing occupancy certificate and approval of new building plan are two completely different things and there is no connection in between. There may be faults at different levels if one is failing to get the occupancy certificate. While the proposal is for a fresh plan and the proposer should not be penalised for the faults of the others,” said a top official of the Department.
He added this “realisation” a reason behind the course correction and now the issue would be addressed afresh at the top level. At the same time he stressed that in doing so there would be no laxity in clearing buildings constructed by violating set norms and by deviating the approved plan.