MCH can only take up demolitions: Mohanty

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, JUNE 18. While the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) gets badgered over the brazen violation of building norms in many parts of the twin cities, its Special Officer and Commissioner, Dr. P.K. Mohanty, has declared that the civic body has powers only to take up demolitions.

"We have no powers to take any action against the builders. We only can take up demolitions that too when there are no Court stays. Our much maligned Town Planning Department inspects for setback rules, zonal violations and height. They cannot ensure the quality of constructions," he said at a press conference here on Monday.

The MCH Commissioner said there were different parties involved in the constructions like the builder, architect, structural engineer, soil investigator, contractor, masons, HMWSSB, buyers etc., and it was not fair to blame the MCH alone for the present state of affairs. At the same time he sought the help and cooperation of all sections of society to set the "system right".

Rather than finding fault with the MCH, the onus was on the purchaser to check the veracity of the builder and the construction he had taken up, Dr. Mohanty suggested. Announcing restructuring of the Town Planning Department, he said, henceforth no official of the department would have a monopoly on inspections.

He announced the formation of special teams at the central, zonal and ward levels for taking action against building violations. While those buildings with a 10 per cent deviation would be spared, constructions built with scant regard to rules beyond that would be demolished by the `multi-purpose, multi- disciplinary' teams consisting of officials drawn from the departments of town planning, horticulture, tax inspectors, bill collectors, urban community development, etc.

"The idea is to remove the discretionary powers of one department and ensure that there is total transparency," said Dr. Mohanty. The MCH Commissioner said the recent judgment of the Supreme Court which ruled no authority could relax the mandatory rules applicable to high rise buildings (more than two floors) as it affects the public safety was `heartening' and this would strengthen the civic body's hands to rein in the erring builders. "We will study the judgment and take appropriate action," he said.

He sought the support of the common people, architects, engineers, builders, voluntary organisations and others to "change the system". Around 150 buildings have been identified as gross violators of norms and demolitions would follow. Action was taken against 24 of them today. He urged people to bring to the notice of the MCH any case of dilapidated buildings or walls so that action could be taken.

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Section  : Southern States
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