Occupancy certificate to be mandatory for registrations

GHMC’s efforts to ensure that there are no deviations

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is striving to link the process of registration of property with the mandatory need of an occupancy certificate.

This certificate is issued only for constructions that follow the prescribed guidelines and regulations and do not deviate from the approved plan.

The civic body took the issue at the Chief Minister level and since an amendment to the Act is required, instructions were given for necessary steps towards this end. However, given the present political situation prevailing in the State, the amendment might have to wait.

In the meantime, steps were taken to link the occupancy certificate with amenities such as power and water supply and these connections were being provided only after the certificate is produced.

Effective move

“As of now, no water supply and power supply is given without the occupancy certificate and this has proved effective,” an official said.

The civic body has received 4,219 applications for occupancy certificate of which 3,054 were already issued and the others were under consideration, said GHMC Chief City Planner G.V. Raghu.

In recent times, banks and financial institutions too have started approaching the civic body seeking details such as approval of plans, occupancy certificates and other details before taking up approval of housing loans.

“We have approached these financial institutions asking them not to issue loans till they verify all the mandatory approvals and this will help in checking constructions that are either unauthorised or deviate from approved plans,” added Mr. Raghu.