BMC may agree to OC amnesty plan

An estimated 19,000 pre-1991 buildings in Mumbai and its suburbs in the possession of builders, developers and cooperative housing societies that do not have the requisite 'occupancy certificate' (OC) may benefit from an amnesty scheme under which a token penalty amount may be charged from them for regularisation.

Currently, the owners of these buildings have to pay nearly twice the amount of property tax and water charge to the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) for not possessing the requisite OC.

A Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI) delegation recently held a meeting with BMC commissioner Karun C Srivastava and urged him to consider the proposal which it feels will give a big fillip to the housing industry in the megapolis.

The amnesty scheme proposed by MCHI for BMC's consideration seeks to allow those who have not taken OC from the civic department, or registered their documents or not transferred the flat will be able to do so by paying a token penalty of Rs 500. The permission for occupancy may be issued to all pending cases prior to March 25, 1991.

Srivastava told the MCHI delegation, "To take occupancy certificate is a pre-requisite for all builders, developers and housing societies. BMC has agreed in principle with the suggestions given by the MCHI for declaring an amnesty. The step is intended to enable and ensure that not only legal and valid structures are recognised but it will also resolve practical issues. As a result, BMC will encourage all those who have not taken OC to come forward and do so where a minimum charge of Rs 500 will be levied. This move will also benefit unfortunate residents who were forced by builders to reside in buildings without an OC and further relieve them from paying other assessment taxes."

Thousands of flat purchasers of authorised buildings are residing in age old buildings without possessing OCs for over 15-20 years.

These societies were paying nearly double the property tax and water charge to the corporation for decades as a result. A committee appointed to look into this issue was unable to resolve the matter.

MCHI said that those who have not taken OC from BMC, or have not registered their documents or have not transferred the flat as the case may be, now will be able to do so.