KOLKATA: KMC will push for legislation to amend the KMC Act and introduce stricter penalties, including non-bailable arrest warrants and jail terms up to 10 years, for unscrupulous promoters. If necessary, it will seek an ordinance before the legislation is later passed in the Assembly.
On Saturday, mayor Firhad Hakim met municipal commissioner and senior officials from the buildings and law departments to chalk out the modalities for placing the amendment proposal before the KMC House.
Once it is passed, it will be sent to the state municipal affairs department, then to the CM’s secretariat and finally to the Assembly.
“We want to introduce stricter penalties for promoters who construct illegal buildings. Once elections are over, we will take the matter forward and place it in the Assembly. This will be our tool against unscrupulous promoters,” said Hakim.
TOI had earlier reported on the KMC’s plan to revise its regulations to classify the construction of illegal buildings as a non-bailable offense, punishable by up to 10 years’ jail and fine up to Rs 50,000 for negligent promoters. According to civic officials, Section 401(A) of the KMC Act will need to be amended.
“We want to introduce a 10-year term as offenders charged under sections where the maximum jail term is below 7 years are usually granted bail,” explained a civic official. The amendment will also clearly specify what is legal and what is not. “The present Act lacks clarity on the issue and promoters are taking advantage of this grey area,” said an official.
The mayor also discussed with officials the extent to which regularization will be allowed when promoters deviate from a sanctioned plan. “What is a minor deviation that can be regularized, and what constitutes a major deviation that will not be allowed? This also needs to be clarified,” said the official.
The move to amend the Act has been prompted by the house collapse in Garden Reach last month.
