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BMC puts onus of structural stability on builders, makes approvals more stringent

Monday, 17 February 2014 09:12 administrator
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The Indian Express            17.02.2014

BMC puts onus of structural stability on builders, makes approvals more stringent

A spate of recent building collapses has thrown light on the lack of structural stability of buildings in the city. 

In a bid to shift the onus of structural stability of a building on developers, Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte has made building proposal approvals more stringent. Builders will now have to ensure that precautionary measures are in place during designing, construction and maintenance of a proposed building.

“Building proposals will be approved if all underground structural members are designed considering the effect of chlorinated water, sulphur water, seepage water… Due care while constructing the same should be taken and a completion certificate shall be insisted on before granting further certificate of commencement (CC) beyond the plinth from the licensed structural engineers,” says a February 4, 2014, circular issued by the office of municipal commissioner.

Civic officials said the “chances of building collapses often increase as the foundation of a structure is not as per the required structural stability measures. Underground water from drains might corrode the reinforced cement concrete (RCC) beams, which is the foundation of a building”.

Developers and architects, however, argue that such a directive is not foolproof.

“Various civic infrastructure such as storm water drains and sewage lines are damaged due to infrastructure work, causing seepage, which can affect a particular building. Also, while a building can ensure structural stability at the underground level, this exercise is useless if the neighbouring building has seepage problems,” said Shirish Sukhatme, president of the Practising Engineers Architects and Town Planners Association (PEATA).

A spate of recent building collapses has thrown light on the lack of structural stability of buildings in the city. In the Aftab Manzil collapse in June last year, which claimed 10 lives, the builder had made illegal alterations on the ground floor, including removal of beams and columns. In yet another case, an illegal building in Mumbra, which was constructed without any structural stability design, collapsed like a pack of cards killing 61 people in April last year.
 

PCMC moots separate cell for riverfront development

Monday, 17 February 2014 07:36 administrator
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The Times of India          17.02.2014

PCMC moots separate cell for riverfront development

PUNE: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) will set up a cell to develop the riverfront areas. Municipal commissioner Rajeev Jadhav said the civic body will clean up and beautify the areas around Pavana, Indrayani and Mula rivers.

"The civic administration has already prepared a Pavana river development plan and sent it to the union government for approval. We will begin the development in the new fiscal by undertaking small portions of the plan which do not need much funds and can be completed by us," he said.

The civic body will landscape the rivers' banks. "We will study the bunds and conditions around them before considering the proposal to start boating," Jadhav said.

Six arterial roads will be developed as model roads. Jadhav said, "These roads are 45m wide.

They are Pune-Mumbai highway, Spine Road, and the three Bus Rapid Transit System routes in Sangvi-Kiwale, Nashik phata-Wakad and Kalewadi phata-Dehu Alandi." The engineering and garden departments have been told to develop these roads. 

 

Navi Mumbai civic body expecting land parcel worth Rs 1,000 cr from Cidco

Monday, 17 February 2014 07:33 administrator
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The Times of India          17.02.2014

Navi Mumbai civic body expecting land parcel worth Rs 1,000 cr from Cidco

NAVI MUMBAI: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) is banking on creating asset whose value would be in the range of Rs 1,000 crore from the land that the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) is expected to handover them.

Speaking to TOI after presenting the civic budget, NMMC chief Abasaheb Jarhad said, "We are expecting Cidco to handover nearly 400 plots to the NMMC. The plots given by Cidco will be used for health, education and other public services. Once these plots are transferred to the NMMC, the civic body is likely to create a land bank whose value would be nearly Rs 1,000 crore."

When asked about the civic body's plans to utilize the land bank, Jarhad said that it is too early to speak about the road map. "But, satellite city is growing at a rapid pace. Soon, it will need more hospitals, educational institutions and public utility services. So, utilization of these plots will be planned accordingly," added Jarhad.

However, urban planner do not see these plan materializing anytime soon as there is unseen tension between the two government agencies-CIDCO and NMMC. "The tussle and lack of coordination between two agencies certainly affects the region," one of the urban experts said on condition of anonymity. He added that unless this tension is eased, CIDCO handing over the plots to NMMC would not happen anytime soon.

In fact, the two agencies are at loggerheads to such extend that last year in December, NMMC corporators demanded the ouster of CIDCO from the satellite city. NCP corporator Vaibhav Gaikwad had on record crticised CIDCO for putting hurdles in the development work of the NMMC.

However, Jarhad refuted the allegation and claimed that he is quite confident of getting these plots from the CIDCO in coming years.

According to the political observers, Thane guardian minister Ganesh Naik and his family members' controls reins of Navi Mumbai region. "But the Naik clan has failed to make material impact or control CIDCO's administration," the political observer added. CIDCO is part of the urban development department (UD) and chief minister Prithviraj Chavan heads the UD department. While NCP heavyweight from Navi Mumbai--Naik is state excise minister in Prithviraj Chavan led DF government.

We are expecting Cidco to handover nearly 400 plots to the NMMC. The plots given by Cidco will be used for health, education and other public services. Once these plots are transferred , the civic body is likely to create a land bank whose value would be nearly Rs 1,000 crore.

 
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