NMMC, builders conspiracy in declaring buildings dilapidated: PIL

Mumbai, Mar 22 (UNI) A public interest litigation was filed before the Bombay High Court today by the ''Janhit Manch'', an NGO, alleging the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) of certifying sound buildings as dilapidated and demolishing them, while allowing builders to undertake reconstruction activities by providing them with additional floor space index (FSI), thus profiting them.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice K Vyas and Justice D Y Chandrachud, responding to the NGO's claim asked the NMMC to provide details of the parameters on which the buildings were being marked as dilapidated and not fit to reside.

The petitioner's counsel Rahul Thakur contended that while the original FSI given to builders was one, now they were given an additional 0.5 FSI and allowed to develop them as commercial plots although they were originally for residential purposes only. The entire functioning is illegal, the petitioner added.

The PIL stated that there was no designated authority who could decide whether the building was sound or dilapidated, and many sound buildings were thus declared dilapidated and reconstructed within short spans of time. Plot prices in the localities where the buildings were certified as dilapidated were more viable and reconstruction brought additional benefits to the builders as well as NMMC officials, the PIL said.

UNI XR-ARM MAZ OM BD2223