The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) plans to amend building regulations to prevent the legalisation of unauthorised constructions exceeding 10% of the permitted area. Mayor Firhad Hakim announced a strict stance against illegal buildings, allowing minor regularisation but not for significant plan changes. A senior KMC official highlighted the difficulty of dealing with buildings where entire floors were added without approval. Following a tragedy in Garden Reach, KMC withheld completion certificates for many new buildings due to rule violations. Hakim urged the police to take quicker action against unauthorised constructions and called for a ward-wise campaign to inform citizens about new rules. The KMC aims to ensure strict adherence to building regulations and promote safer, more orderly development in Kolkata.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is planning to change its building regulations to stop builders from legalising unauthorised constructions if these exceed 10% of the permitted area. Mayor Firhad Hakim recently announced that city officials are taking a strict stance on illegal buildings. He said that while the city might allow regularisation if the violations are minor, some builders often exploit the rules by making significant changes to approved plans and then trying to legalise them. This won't be allowed anymore, he stated.
A senior KMC buildings department official explained the difficulties in dealing with newly constructed buildings where entire floors were added without approval. The local teams have identified many buildings with major rule violations. Notices are issued, the promoters then seek regularisation, but the KMC are bound by the existing rules, the official said.
After a tragedy in Garden Reach, the KMC withheld completion certificates for hundreds of new buildings due to rule violations. These certificates are necessary for getting water and drainage connections. Mayor Hakim emphasised the city's commitment to demolishing illegal buildings and urged the police to take quicker action against unauthorised constructions. The local police don't respond promptly to complaints, The KMC officials will escalate the issue to Lalbazar to get help for demolitions.. To help small landowners build homes legally, Hakim has asked the KMC buildings department to relax rules for plots between 500 sq ft and 2,200 sq ft, including thika land plots. He also called for a ward-wise campaign to inform citizens about the new rules.
An official noted that small landowners often avoid regulations, leading to unsafe buildings constructed without proper supervision. This can be exploited by promoters who use substandard materials. Overall, the KMC's new approach aims to ensure that building constructions follow the rules strictly and that the safety and planning standards of the city are maintained. This move is expected to discourage illegal construction practices and promote safer and more orderly development in Kolkata.
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