Constructing a building? You are being watched

Constructing a building? You are being watched
The Times of India

Bangalore: How does one tackle the slip between sanctioned plan for a construction and the actual structure standing taller, wider and with a lil’ bit of deviation there?

To address this anomaly, the BMP has constituted vigilance committees whose core function is to track the city’s ongoing construction activities. The committees, long pending, have been spurred by the macro debate on demolitions at Koramangala and the issue of unauthorised constructions, violations that have become commonplace.

The committees will be headed by a zonal DC (deputy commissioner) in each of the three zones — east, west and south — and will have a squad of four engineers on a rotation basis. Their modus operandi — once a plan sanction is given and construction starts, the vigilance squad is literally supposed to keep vigil till its completion to ensure there is no deviation.

For emerging constructions in Bangalore, this might spell a note of caution in the backdrop of civic authorities pointing fingers at builders as gross violators of bylaws. Explains BMP commissioner K Jairaj who galvanised these committees: “The vigilance committees are needed because if people know that they are being watched, they won’t or rather can’t indulge in violations to the tune of 100 to 150 per cent. We are also hopeful that this division of labour, from the zonal DC to the ward engineer, will make our teams responsible and take corrective action immediately. ‘’ Presently the construction industry in Bangalore is in a state of flux, what with approximately 8,000 constructions in progress annually. Will this then spell the death knell for building violations or at least ensure adherence to the sanctioned plan? Not many agree. Says K L Mohan Rao, president of the Construction Industry Development Academy and Research Centre (CIDARC): “At every stage of construction of a multi-storied building, there are engineers and inspectors who check the place and certify that all is right. Later when they give a completion certificate, does this mean they don’t know what was going on? Such committees have been set up before, we have to wait and watch if they will make some difference or remain a committee on paper.’’

The vigilance squads are operational from the BMP’s four offices — head office (N R Square), East Zone (Mayo Hall), West Zone (Malleswaram, near Sampige theatre) and South Zone (Jayanagar office.)

VIGILANCE SQUADS
The squads are operational from BMP’s four offices — head office (N R Square), East Zone (Mayo Hall), West Zone (Malleswaram, near Sampige theatre) and South Zone (Jayanagar office)