Get building plans okayed in a jiffy

Get building plans okayed in a jiffy
Law Will Replace Corpn Engineers With Architects
The Times of India

Bangalore: Imagine your building plan sanctioned without middlemen or engineers, file hopping and palm greasing. It could come true if the legislature approves a proposal moved by the urban development department.

To simplify the plan-approval process, which is embroiled in corruption and harassment, the government has mooted an amendment to the Karnataka Municipal Corporation and Municipalities Act, which empowers registered architects to draft and okay plans eliminating engineers who have donned the role of touts. This will apply to all urban local bodies in Karnataka, including city corporations.

Urban development department officials said once the amendment was through, registered architects would have to ensure that the building plan conformed to the bylaws. A copy of the approved plan must be submitted to the authority along with the prescribed fees 15 days prior to start of construction. The authorities, in turn, would have to just endorse the plan.

The move will put the onus on architects. In case of major violations found in the building post-construction, the authorities can blacklist them. “There are a lot of guidelines laid out for architects as they will be pulled up for lapses,” officials said.

Studies by NGOs show that building-plan sanctions, issuance of birth and death registration certificates and khata issuance top the corruption list. Some years ago, the BMP had introduced Sulabh Nakshe, an easy building-plan approval process. But after sometime, everything swung back to square one. Though citizen service centres were seen as a hassle-free platform for plan approvals, citizens still complain of delay, corruption and harassment.

Current procedure for building plan approval

l In BMP, the assistant executive engineers, zonal deputy commissioners and joint director of town planning department are the approvers.
l The assistant executive engineers of the 30 engineering zones are empowered to sanction building plan for residentials — ground plus first floor.
l A zonal deputy commissioner sanctions plan for residential or commercial — ground plus three floors. At his/ her level, a screening committee exists comprising the DC, chief engineer, additional director town planning and a draftsman to look into the plans. l Commercial and residential high-rise buildings — ground plus four floors and above will be approved by the joint director, town planning department.