Mumbai: BMC works on ways to acquire structural audit report from citizens

In an attempt to avert further building collapse incidents, the BMC is reaching out to the residents and owners of non-cessed buildings that are more than 30 years old to ensure they submit a structural audit report on time.
As per rules, every year the BMC sends notices to owners of dilapidated buildings, seeking a structural audit report. However, officials claim, not many submit the report in time.
As per the Mumbai Municipal Act, there is a provision to penalize owners if they do not submit the report within one month, senior civic officials said.
“If the occupant or owner living in dilapidated structures does not submit the report within one month after receiving the BMC notice, we have the provision to impose fines on them,” said Chakrapani Alle, assistant municipal commissioner and in-charge of B and C ward, which covers areas between Mumbadevi and Kalbadevi to Dongri and Sandhurst Road.
“However instead of penalizing them first, we are trying to make them submit the reports by explaining to them the importance of these audits. We are reaching out to them personally and through public representatives,” Alle said.
A senior civic official said that notices were served to 4,331 buildings in B and C ward, of which only six respondents have submitted their report.
“We have the provisions of imposing a fine of Rs 25,000 on the defaulters, but we don’t think that will help because the entire process involves a lot of paperwork,” said an official.
Another civic official from the western suburbs said that if the occupants do not pay the fine, it gets included in the property tax.