Date:25/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/25/stories/2006012520400300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

MCH to submit new building plans for obtaining NOC

Staff Reporter

Fire Services wing to be taken into confidence

1,737 unauthorised buildings in the last 10 years

Most number of illegal constructions in Circle III

HYDERABAD: The MCH has decided to submit all new building plans with more than 15 metres of height with stilt for parking to the Fire Services Department for taking no objection certificate (NOC).

This was following directions of the High Court here on Tuesday. Senior officials who held preliminary discussions to understand the import of court orders felt that it was not much of a hassle as till date they were sending all building plans of more than 18 metre height to the department for clearance.

"We will send all plans of more than 15 metres height to the department till the Government brings out an ordinance amending the Fire Safety Act," said a senior official.

The Act was amended in 2002 and according to it, any building of more than 15 metres height is classified as a multi-storied building. But as per G.O. No. 423 issued a few years earlier, a multi-storied building was classified as any structure of more than 18 metres height as it took into consideration the 2.5-3 metres stilt height left for parking.

List for High Court

The corporation listed out a total of 1,737 buildings constructed unauthorisedly in the last 10 years among all its seven circles of the twin cities to the High Court. There were 1,146 buildings constructed without height violation (15 metres to 18 metres) and 520 constructed with height violations. The largest number of unauthorised constructions were in Circle III: 346 (without height violation) and 104 (with height violation), Circle V: 265/244, Circle VII: 259/70.

The MCH also prepared a list of Government buildings constructed without taking its prior permission and not having the NOC. These were: New block of High Court, High Court complex near City College; Police Commissioner's office, Basheerbagh; New block of MLA quarters building, Hyderguda; Andhra Pradesh Housing Corporation office, Himayatnagar; DGP's office, Lakdikapul. Ranga Reddy Collector office, Lakidikapul; Intelligence office complex, A.C. Guards; Central Building Division, A.C. Guards; Public Health Engineering ofice, A.C. Guards; Director of Municipal Administration office, A.C. Guards; Paryatak Bhavan, Greenlands. Yousufguda Stadium; MLA quarters building, Punjagutta; New RTA office block, Khairatabad; Arayna Bhavan, Saifabad; Haj Complex, Public Gardens and Gandhi Medical College and Hospital complex.