The occupancy certificate for buildings would be made a mandatory requirement to get electricity and water connections, said Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Commissioner Somesh Kumar here on Friday.
Interacting with the presspersons, he said the requirement would mean that the applicants seeking electricity or water connection for their building would get the permission only on producing the occupancy certificate. “We will be improving the existing system to ensure that every person applying for building permission also obtains the occupancy certificate. Most do not seek the certificate as they do not feel the need for it,” he said.
The civic body has also initiated a survey on the permissions given to construct buildings and occupancy certificates obtained. It would cover the reasons for not obtaining the certificate. Whether the buildings, after completion, were assessed for property tax would also be part of the study, he said.
During the last four years, a total of 50,424 building permission applications were received, Mr. Somesh Kumar said. In the year 2008-09, 6,742 building applications were received for which an amount of Rs. 206 crore was collected, 2009-10 had 7,010 applications for which Rs. 226 crore received and 2010-11 saw the civic body getting Rs. 292 crore from 6,570 applications.
The number rose from the year 2011-12 when the GHMC received 8,746 building applications with an amount of Rs. 332 crore followed by 12,663 applications with Rs. 500 crore while last year, an amount of Rs. 524 crore was received from 10,025 building applications.
Gurukul Trust landOn the Gurukul Trust lands, Mr. Somesh Kumar said that some had permission through court orders because of which they started the construction process as the matter was pending in the court. A list of buildings with litigations was being prepared and consolidated with the Revenue Department and others. It would be submitted to the government for further orders, he added.
