KOLKATA: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) buildings department has relaxed the existing building rules for owners of small plots in a colony or on thika land, besides reducing the regularisation fee for those who built homes without building plans in such areas. For the small plots, the size of mandatory open space has been reduced. The civic body will also ensure that the building plans are sanctioned within 15 days.
The relaxations will be given to those who possess plots of 300 sq ft to 2,100 sq ft. Using this unique scheme, owners of small plots — even those measuring between300 and 450 square feet — will now be able to construct a three-storey building, said mayor Firhad Hakim.
Hakim on Friday said the KMC buildings department will bring down the amount of the regularisation fee (upper limit) from Rs 3.2 lakh to Rs 42,000.
Struggling to prevent the construction of illegal buildings across the city, many of which have been tilting for not adhering to basic safety rules, the KMC has brought some significant changes in the existing rules that will encourage small plot owners to submit building plans and get them sanctioned by the civic authorities. Relaxations will also be given to those plot owners who will take the help of an architect or structural engineer and submit a detailed plan for construction of buildings, said Hakim. Foundation of the building will be done strictly under the lens of KMC-empanelled structural engineers.
“Citizens, who are afraid of adhering to rules and don’t want to part with their land due to its small size, land in trouble as these buildings are constructed in the absence of a structural engineer’s watch. There is a possibility that promoters may take advantage of this by using inferior construction materials.” ” After such plot owners submit their building plans, our inspectors will visit the site and, if need be, we will offer relaxations after ensuring the buildings that will come up won’t encroach on adjacent ones,” an official said.
