If you are resident of a multi-storey apartment complex, check if your building occupancy certificate (OC) is genuine. For, in a bid to attract buyers, several developers have procured fake OCs in collusion with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials. In many instance, electricity and water connections have been obtained on the basis of fake OCs.
The city has an estimated 20,000 high-rises, but records in BBMP reveal that OCs have been issued to only 95 structures. This also shows the manner in which building bylaws have been violated in case of high-rises, many of which are commercial structures frequented by thousands of people.
Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) is probing the fake OC racket. It has arrested a BBMP employee for issuing fake OCs to a complex in Rajarajeshwari Nagar having 180 flats after taking a bribe of Rs. 10 lakh. A complaint to BMTF alleges that nearly 30,000 flats in the city have been issued fake OCs.
Modus operandi
Investigations have revealed that a well-entrenched network of realtors and the BBMP Town Planning Department officials have found a way to secure OCs for buildings that do not conform to norms. Officials issue a fake OC complete with the BBMP seal and signature of the official concerned to make the certificate look genuine. But, such certificates are not entered in BBMP records and hence have no legal sanctity. The racket thrives because officials fear being pulled up for issuing an original OC, which needs to be entered in the registry, for a building with violations.
Acknowledging the thriving racket, a senior functionary of Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India told The Hindu that the only solution is to simplify the rules, which are ‘very complex’.
Earlier, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) would issue occupancy certificates; it was also accused of issuing certificates to buildings that violated bylaws. The civic body became the issuing authority in 1997.
Fake occupancy certificate has BBMP seal and signature of the official concerned to make it look genuine, but details about such certificates are not entered in BBMP records and hence have no legal sanctity
