Thousands of housing complexes and apartments will be deprived of power connections if developers and owners of houses and residential complexes do not get building plans sanctioned and obtain occupancy certificates (OC) from authorised government agencies.
However, the new rule will not be applicable for housing units having a built-up area of below 8,000 sq ft and building height of less than 50 ft.
Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who met office-bearers of building contractors association here on Monday, told presspersons that the new rule would be implemented in accordance with a circular issued by the Urban Development Department, which applies to housing structures in the entire State.
In Bengaluru
In Bengaluru, builders of apartments have to obtain building plan sanction and OC from the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and Bangalore Development Authority for power connections. The circular has been issued in light of the fact that thousands of apartment blocks and houses have obtained water, drain and power connections in Bengaluru and other cities without getting their plans sanctioned or without obtaining OC.
“We have been forced to tighten the rules as the BWSSB is finding it difficult to provide water and drain connections to unbridled constructions,” Mr. Shivakumar said.
Violators have to bear a penalty in the form of a 25 per cent higher tariff cost on the energy consumed, he said.
The Urban Development Department’s circular has instructed the BBMP and BDA not to issue “no objection certificate (NoC) and OC for structures that have violated any of the building bylaws”.
