08 January,2012 07:34 AM IST | | Saurabh Katkurwar
More than 384 buildings in the satellite city have residents with no Occupancy Certificates; civic body to regularise illegal constructions in buildings that have held up issuance
According to rules, a house owner needs to possess an Occupancy Certificate (OC) issued by the municipal authorities, before getting possession of her home. However, residents of over 384 buildings in Navi Mumbai have been living in their houses without OCs.
The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has not issued OCs on account of illegal constructions in the buildings.
The NMMC conducted a three-month survey starting December 2010, and found that over 384 buildings were not been issued OCs. The NMMC has decided to regularise the illegal constructions in these buildings wherever permissible under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MR&TP) Act, 1966 or demolish them. No action has been taken against 343 buildings, as yet. Deputy Municipal Commissioner of NMMC Aziz Sheikh said, "We have begun taking action against these buildings. CIDCO board has decided to legalise the illegal constructions in the buildings in the villages of Navi Mumbai. We are waiting for the CIDCO's final approval. Once they legalise the irregularities, we will not need to take any action against those buildings. As for the other buildings, we will check if their irregularities can be legalised under the MR&TP Act and issue OCs accordingly. The constructions, which cannot be regularised will be demolished. The whole process is going to take time."
Nerul resident Dinanth Patil, who is one of the affected homeowners said, "We were not aware of the irregularities while purchasing our homes. Our builder has clearly done some illegal construction in our building. Now, we have to suffer for the misdeeds of the builders, as we do not have the OC."
Other residents staying in the buildings are waiting with hope that the NMMC regularise their buildings and issue them OCs, as well.u00a0
What the survey says
The NMMC conducted a three-month survey starting December 2010, and found that over 384 buildings were not been issued OCs. The NMMC has decided to regularise the illegal constructions in these buildings wherever permissible under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MR&TP) Act, 1966 or demolish them. No action has been taken against 343 buildings, as yet.
According to affected homeowners, they were not aware of irregularities while purchasing their homes. They claim that builders are at fault and they fear that they might have to now suffer on their account.
