The Hindu : Front Page : GHMC puts builders on notice

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Monday, Apr 20, 2009
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GHMC puts builders on notice

Corporation officials after builders to get their plans released

GHMC begins issuing notices, for the second time, to 353 applicants
Builders have a year’s time to get their plans released after taking provisional clearance

HYDERABAD: A little over a year ago, builders used to breathe down the necks of officials of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to hasten release of plans so that construction can be taken up fast.

However, things have changed now and it’s the officials who are after builders to get their plans released!

The builders, having taken preliminary clearances of their respective construction plans, are shying away from taking the final nod not only because they will be forced to start construction in these recessionary times but will also have to shell out large amounts in building permits and other fees.

Second time

With several building plans in the limbo, the GHMC has begun issuing notices, for the second time, to 353 applicants who have obtained provisional clearances for various constructions. Builders have a year’s time to get their final plans released after taking provisional clearance by paying Rs. 10,000 or face the prospect of having to apply again. Notices are being issued in cases where the official time limit has lapsed or is about to. Planning officials, after inspecting 315 sites, have realised that only 38 had started works and 235 were yet to begin. Perhaps, GHMC would not have bothered to hound the builders if not for the revenue it was losing because of the delay in releasing the plans.

Close watch

Officials have revealed that more than Rs. 122 crore was due from the builders and thus far only Rs. 11.45 crore was realised. With the GHMC itself in a tight financial state, senior officials are not leaving anything to chance as building activity has been a sizeable revenue earner in the last few years.

On receipt of notices, some applicants are said to have come out with “special requests” to allow them to pay the permit fee and others instalment wise but that’s a decision for the Government to take. Officials are also keeping a keeping a close watch on activity in the sites of such cases as it was found that digging for cellars was being done surreptitiously with the argument that “it was not construction activity!”

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