Over 500 illegal bldgs in Navi Mumbai

According to a series of RTIs, 545 buildings in Navi Mumbai have been built using more carpet area than permitted

While the city was surprised to learn that 21 out of the 23 high-rises on Navi Mumbai's Palm Beach Road are under a probe for violating construction norms, as admitted by the Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan in the state assembly on Tuesday, it turns out there are a lot more skeletons in the closet. Five hundred and forty five to be exact.


Vighnahar Developers in Nerul. PIC/ DATTA KUMBHAR

Based on a series of Right to Information (Act) applications to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), Sunil Kumar, the proprietor of SK Brothers, which invests in real estate, has found that 545 buildings in Navi Mumbai have been constructed using more carpet area than what's permitted.

Kumar said, "I filed RTIs asking for sanction plans (Occupancy Certificate) of various buildings in Navi Mumbai and on comparing them to the actual built-up area of these buildings, came across several irregularities." He added, "Their Occupancy Certificates are totally different from their marketing brochures. The builders have used space meant for parking, flower beds, etc. to extend the construction area of the buildings."

According to Kumar, he has made complaints against builders to the NMMC Commissioner, Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner, Chief Minister and Home Minister but nothing has come of it. In the course of two years, Kumar claims to have also been threatened by a high-ranking official from NMMC. "All this indicates that officials from the corporation are complicit with the builders," he said.

When contacted, Sanjay Banait, Assistant Director, Town Planning Department, NMMC, said that the buildings in question were being scrutinised. He, however, could not explain why the NMMC was unable to spot illegalities, if any.

An NMMC official, however, was more forthcoming. "Officials from the corporation are involved in these illegal constructions. How can they not notice a difference in the Occupancy Certificates and the actual construction?" he said, on condition of anonymity.

One of the buildings in question, Vighnahar Developers in Nerul, is reported to have used extra and illegal 919 sq. metres. Kumar owns two flats in the building. "The builder was allowed to construct 3512 sq. metres for a Floor Space Index (FSI) of 1.5. He, however, has used 4431 sq. metres. The builder must have earned an additional Rs 10 crore from this irregularity and the corporation must have lost at least Rs 2.5 core," said the NMMC official.

According to Pradeep Mittal, a resident of the building, the housing society has sent two legal notices to the builder, but he has not responded. "Now, we are going to file a criminal case against him. We are meeting the Police Commissioner of Navi Mumbai on Monday."

NMMC Municipal Commissioner Bhaskar Wankhede said he will look into the matter and take action against officials, if found erring. "We are already investigating the matter," he said.