Misuse of ‘auto scrutiny’ in focus

In order to keep a watch and not allow notorious builders and architects to misuse the clause of ‘self certification’ the BhrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s development plan department will come out with a list of ‘zero risk’ zones and ‘high risk’ zones around the city. The BMC will keep a tight watch on the approvals granted to real estate projects in ‘high risk’ zones.

The BMC in a circular earlier in May had adopted the ‘auto scrutiny’ scheme and online single window application for building proposals on trial basis.

“We have brought many steps to ease the building approvals and with that there is a need to have a tight watch on them. We will come out with list of zero-risk zones and highly-risk zones areas around the city where we will keep a tight watch on the approvals granted to real estate projects,” said an official from development plan department of BMC.

The circular allowed the developers and their architects to self-certify their projects and it meant that several approvals had become self-certified and they are later verified by civic officials.

“Though the BMC verifies it later, the main purpose is to just have another precaution because if any fault is found later after the project is started or completed, the action has to be taken following the due process of the law and it adds extra burden on the administrations. Also, there are chances that after illegal construction the developer will go to court and get a stay on it. In such cases the matter gets subjudice and it gives the builders chance to come up with more illegal structures,” added another official from development plan department of BMC.

Currently, the BMC is using the Auto-DCR software to verify the proposals submitted by the builders and architects. The software verifies and approves No Objection Certificate (NOC) required on every step from the start till the end. The Commencement Certificate (CC) for the commencement of the work is also given via this application.