DNA ( 19 May 2016 ) carries news report titled :
" Now, info
on residential projects just a click away "
Part of this report reads :
" From May 15, the
BMC has brought the entire building proposal system online which means that
from the time of proposal submission till the building completion the entire
process would be online.
While on trial basis we
did begin the process in May 2015, but it is only on May 15, 2016 that the
entire process has been brought online.
There would not be any human inference in any
of the proposals and once submitted on the website it would go to the different
departments in a parallel manner for clearance," said Vinod Chithore, chief engineer (DP).
Congratulations , Shri
Chithore !
This is indeed , a great
e-Governance step
But , there is scope for
improvement , as suggested in my following blog dt 04 Nov 2015 :
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SELF CERTIFICATION FOR BUILDERS ?
In Hindustan Times ( Oct 29 ) , Moushumi Das Gupta writes :
Govt to streamline rules for Construction Projects
Currently , a builder requires as many as 34 kinds of permits
from two dozen Ministries, before starting construction
This process takes up to 3 years
Now, Central Govt has initiated a process to streamline the
approvals required to ensure that builders get all the construction permits
within 60 days
Eg:
* Built up Area............. Environment
Ministry
* Height Restriction...... .Civil Aviation
Ministry
Cabinet Secretary has directed all the Ministries to come out
with notifications by end Dec 2015
The Centre has decided to empower Municipalities to grant all
construction related approvals , based on these notifications
One would be able to get all approvals from under one roof ,
which in this case , would be the Municipal Corporation's office
Although a very laudable initiative , I believe there is
tremendous scope to further streamline and digitize this approval process, in
the nature of
E-Delivery of Services to Construction Industry
Here is how :
* All builders / developers must register on Municipal Web
sites and obtain
unique BUILDER REGISTRATION NUMBER
* Builders must fill in online, on web site of concerned
Municipality, a form :
BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION
* Building Permit Application Form will have a STANDARD
FORMAT , into
which applicant will need to submit
exhaustive details re the project
This will include detailed Floor Plans and
Structural Drawings , along with
names / contact details of Architects /
Structural Engineers etc
The FORM will require slab-casting dates for
each slab and the final
completion date when builder will apply for
Occupation Certificate
* The Form will have a section called
SELF CERTIFICATION
/ DECLARATION
Builder would be required to tick YES / NO
against each item as shown :
Does your proposed Building / Structure /
Project , satisfy the criteria /
notifications / regulations , issued by the
concerned Ministries in respect
of :
# Built-up Area........... ( YES
) / ( NO )
# Height Restriction
# Fire Fighting
# Water Harvesting
# Roof-top Solar Power
# Effluent Treatment
# Garbage Disposal
# Earthquake Resistant Structural
Design..............etc
Clicking on each item will reveal the relevant "
Notification / Regulation " issued by the concerned Ministry
To make the process absolutely fool-proof , the form will insist
on an " Electronic Signature " of the applicant
DECLARATION / UNDERTAKING :
" I declare that I have read each and every notification /
regulation , listed in respect of items mentioned above
I further declare that I explicitly agree to abide by these
regulations
I am aware that Occupation Certificate will not be granted if my
completed project is found to be in violation of any of these notifications /
regulations
I will not allow any person / entity to occupy any part of this
premises , until and unless , Municipality issues to me , the Occupation
Certificate
If Municipality finds any violations , I agree to rectify the
same before applying for a fresh Occupation Certificate
If Municipality is not in a position to issue Occupation
Certificate due to any
violations which simply cannot be rectified , then I will
demolish the said building / project / structure on my own and before
such demolition , refund with interest , payments collected from the buyers
The plot of land is free from any encumbrances / litigations
I am not in default of any loans taken from any bank /
individuals
I will not accept any payment in cash , nor make cash payments
I absolve the Municipal Corporation of any liability arising out
of non completion of my project
I agree that my Building Permit Application and my Registration
Application details , be made accessible to public on your web site , along
with full details of my past / current projects and full details of my balance
sheet / bank borrowings "
GRANT OF APPROVALS BY MINISTRIES :
As soon as the builder submits the online BUILDING PERMIT
APPLICATION , it automatically and instantly , appears on the web sites of ALL
the concerned Ministries
The concerned officer of each Ministry , makes APPROVED /
REJECTED entries in the application form , from the backend
If rejected , he will provide the reasons
Ministry officers are required to carry out this entry , within
24 hours
As soon as an officer of any Ministry makes entry and SUBMITS ,
the application forms on web sites of ALL Ministries and web site of the
concerned Municipality , get updated simultaneously and instantly , making for
MIRROR IMAGES at all times
As soon as any entry is made , a copy gets emailed to the
applicant builder
Any " editing " of the application form by the builder
, will start the entire process , all over
Applicant builder will be obliged to display the latest emailed
form at the site
The database so created on web sites of ALL Ministries - and
concerned Municipality - will be searchable State-wise / City-wise
CHANGES IN RELEVANT LAWS :
To speed up any litigation between the parties concerned (
Builder / Buyers / Central & State Govts / Municipality / Bankers etc ) ,
existing laws may be changed
IMPORTANT :
Every application must be in the open domain and visible to
anyone , online and transparently
There should be provision for any visitor of the web site to
report any abuse / violation of regulations or any objection to the proposed
construction
ADVANTAGES :
If such SELF CERTIFICATION process is implemented , it should be
possible for India to beat Singapore , where getting 11 approval takes only 26
days !
It would be ZERO days in our case !
Now couple this with abolition of Corporate Income Tax for
Construction Industry for the next 10 years and witness a MIRACLE
Then only it would become possible for achieving the following
targets set by different States / Centre , under HOUSING FOR ALL:
* Maharashtra........... 5
lakh ( By 2020 )
* Gujarat................... 50 lakh (
2013 - 2018 )
* Centre.................... 220 lakh ( by
2022 )
Also imagine :
* Employment it would generate
* FDI it would bring in
* Our rank in EASE OF DOING BUSINESS
Need of the hour is :
* Come out of " Analysis Paralysis "
* Get rid of historical baggage
* Break free from the legacy of the past
* Think " Out of Box "
* Take risk without worrying about possible failure
* Make Course-Corrections , as you learn what
mistakes got made
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20 May
2016
www.hemenparekh.in / blogs
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