Andhra Pradesh

Flat owners flay GVMC on BPS

VISAKHAPATNAM: ‘Coercive’ and ‘intimidating’ tactics followed by Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation (GVMC) for those who have not applied for Building Penalisation Scheme has led to strong resentment among the flat owners.

The BPS for building regularisation by GVMC and Layout Regularization Scheme by Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority have so far evoked a poor response despite repeated extension of the last date for submission of applications along with 50 per cent amount towards penalty.

GVMC is serving notices and cautioning of action through public address system in the streets.

Red marks were put at some apartment complexes with threats of cutting water and power connections, according to Visakhapatnam Apartment Residents’ Welfare Association.

VARWA president Ch.L.N. Sastry and general secretary A.V. Ramana Rao said that GVMC should not resort to threats and coercions because the matter was sub judice.

The High Court’s order nowhere authorised the GVMC to extract money from citizens/apartment dwellers like Building Regularisation Scheme of 1998.

“While keeping mum on unauthorized building construction carried out even now by big shots are going unscathed, GVMC is trying to target and punish middle class people who buy small properties with their hard-earned savings and borrowings,” Mr. Ramana Rao said.

He said apartments with undivided share of less than 100 square metres should be exempted from payment under BPS.

VARWA also wanted that action should be taken against builders who deviate from the approved plan.

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