Experts frown at Kerala High Court easing municipality building rules
City has not enough roads, water supply &sewage treatment facilities
KOCHI: The High Court’s ratification of the relaxation in municipal building rules and increasing the floor area ratio (FAR) have been opposed by the urban planners and civic experts of Kochi.
In a land-scarce city like Kochi, the increased FAR will have far-reaching consequences as it is already struggling without enough roads, water supply, waste treatment, parking and other basic facilities to the existing buildings, point out experts.
The High Court on Wednesday refused to intervene in the relaxation of Kerala municipality building rules, a policy decision by the state government, by dismissing a plea filed by former mayor C.M. Dinesh Mani.
The relaxation in FAR, coverage, access and height will result in indiscriminate construction of residential and commercial apartments without having mandatory open space, say town planners.
As per the city’s structural plan, FAR on MG Road has been fixed at two while it is 1.5 on Park Avenue and Chittoor Road.
On NH by-pass the FAR is 2.5 and the civic body is permitting maximum number of constructions along it. However, a section of urban planners says that building rule relaxation can be effectively utilised for infrastructure development.
“The civic body can impose additional charge for increasing FAR for high-rise buildings. In metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai, civic bodies are charging high rates for permitting additional FAR and the amount is being used for water supply, sewage management, parking and waste management,” said a senior town planner with Greater Cochin Development Authority.
Meanwhile, corporation Town Planning Committee chairman K.J. Sohan observed that easing building rules would be damaging for Kochi as the city’s carrying capacity is low with less provision for basic facilities.
“However, the concept of permitting more square area by imposing additional charges is feasible. In Delhi and Mumbai, the civic bodies are charging more than Rs 25, 000 for allowing one square metre. For this, the civic body has to prepare detailed town plan for each area,” he said.
At the same time, property developers have welcomed the High Court order.