Owners of old buildings in Maharashtra will now have to provide building documents and proof of structural safety while applying for new water, drainage or other utility connections.
The state Urban Development Department issued a Government Resolution (GR) on Monday, introducing a uniform procedure for providing utility connections to old buildings across municipal corporations, municipalities and nagar panchayats in Maharashtra.
Structural stability certificate mandatory
Under the new procedure, applicants seeking a new water or drainage connection will have to submit the building’s original construction permission along with a valid structural stability certificate.
Before approving the connection, the concerned engineer will verify the documents and assess whether the building complies with the provisions of the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR) and the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act.
Rainwater harvesting facilities to be checked
Authorities will also examine whether the building has adequate space and provisions for rainwater harvesting, solid waste management and bio-sludge management.
The feasibility assessment will also consider whether installation of these facilities could pose any risk to the building itself or to neighbouring structures.
Uniform rules across urban local bodies
The new procedure will apply uniformly to all municipal corporations, municipalities and nagar panchayats across Maharashtra.
The state government has directed all urban local bodies to process applications from owners of old buildings once the prescribed conditions and documentation have been fulfilled.
The move is aimed at ensuring structural safety, improving compliance with environmental requirements and bringing uniformity to the process of approving utility connections for older buildings across the state.
Share
Tweet
