Builders flout norms, construct high rise buildings

Hyderabad: Several builders of multi-storey buildings (above eight floors) spread across Nanakramguda, Manikonda, Madhapur, Shamshabad and Gachibowli, in HMDA’s jurisdiction, don’t get the mandatory No Objection Certificate from the Fire Services Department and Airports Authority of India (AAI).

It is not uncommon for developers to apply for permission for ground-plus five floors, and then construct additional floors. They will sell the property which will later cost the buyers a bomb to “regularise”. Many builders don’t even seek a certificate from a licensed structural engineer to ensure safety compliance, complain buyers.

I.N. Murthy, general manager, AAI, said obtaining an NoC from the AAI is mandatory under statutory order SO 84 (E), to ensure there are no obstructions to air activities.
The town planning department must insist on an NoC from the AAI before granting building permission for multi-storey buildings that are 20 metres to 56 km from the airport.
In each of the four zones — Shamshabad, Shankarpally, Ghatkesar and Medchal — there are around 3,000-plus multi-storey buildings.

However, AAI records of the last three years show that not more than 700 developers approached it for clearances. (Any residential or commercial building above five floors “must” seek clearance).
Suresh Kaveen, resident of Manikonda complained, “Right from assistants to heads, officials in all the four zonal offices of HMDA are hand-in-glove with the developers. In fact, no physical inspection is done at most of the sites.

The introduction of green channel by HMDA will help stop this violation to an extent, but it is not a difficult task for builders to get approval on the city’s outskirts without mandatory documents. The Shankarpally office of HMDA was sabotaged when corrupt practices of officials were brought out, and they destroyed 490 files and important documents.”

“The biggest example was Baba Nivas apartment that caught fire in 2012 killing five people. The apartment was approved for only G+ 3 floors; however, it was a five-storey apartment. The then collector, Mr. Vani, confirmed that the extra two floors were illegal. There are hundreds of such cases on the city’s outskirts,” added Krishna Murthy, resident of Puppalgudda.

A major irregularity committed in the AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) in the last four years has come to light. An internal Multi-Storied Building (MSB) Committee of the corporation, which had officials from the HMDA too, gave clearances to 40 high-rise buildings in the Gachi Bowli area in clear violation of guidelines. Leave aside not asking for an NOC from AAI and the fire department, the committee approved the buildings even when they did not have sufficient setbacks and parking spaces, which is mandatory when approving the building plan.