Deposing before the Enquiry Commission today, Phatak said that "I stand by my decision. Even now I hold a view that it was not necessary to refer the matter back to the High Rise Committee."
Phatak, who has been named by CBI in its FIR in the Adarsh scam, has been accused of illegally regularising the construction of an additional floor of the plush building in south Mumbai, without referring the matter to the High Rise Committee.
Under the rules of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, proposals of those buildings having height of more than 70 meters have to be referred to the High Rise Committee.
Phatak, in his defence, had said that when he was approached by the Adarsh members in 2009 seeking permission to construct an additional floor, the High Rise Committee had already permitted height upto 103.4 meters.
However, CBI had alleged that the committee had recommended height of only 97.60 meters.
According to the agency, the society constructed an additional floor without permission of the civic body by which the height of the building went upto 100.7 meters.
Defending his decision, the 1972 batch IAS officer told the enquiry panel, "I was informed by the society members that structural design is already scrutinised for height of 103.4 meters and in view of this sending the matter back to the High Rise Committee would cause delay of three to four months."
He further said that the committee was only advisory in nature and its recommendations were either accepted or modified by the commissioner.
