In Mumbai: 5,500 ‘illegal’ buildings may turn legal in Thane

State’s decision to relax norms has given opportunity legal buildings lacking OC to claim one

The state government’s decision to provide deemed conveyance to the buildings which do not have occupation certificate (OC) will benefit more than 5,500 residential housing societies in the city. About 24,000 societies in the district will benefit from this decision. More than 80% societies in the city do not have OC, which stalled their deemed conveyance.

Those residing in legal buildings without OC buildings are charged 1.5% extra property tax. (Praful Gangurde)

Following the Ghatkopar building collapse, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis eased a few norms to simplify the process of seeking permission for securing OC. Most buildings that do not have an OC were built illegally. However, OC for thousands of legal buildings was rejected after the builder or the architect flouted rules. Hence, those residing in such buildings are charged 1.5% extra property tax.

Sitaram Rane, president, Thane district housing federation said, “As per the earlier norm, it was mandatory for the societies to possess OC or BCC (building completion certificate) to get deemed conveyance. But most societies in Thane do not have OC or BCC because the builder violated some. However, these societies are legal. The decision to give deemed conveyance to buildings without OC or BCC will benefit more than 24,000 buildings in the district of which 5,500 are in the city.”

“These are the numbers for those societies which had applied for conveyance. On the other hand, there are societies which did not apply because they don’t have an OC,” Rane said.

However, such societies will now only need a completion certificate (CC) and approved plans of their building from the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) for deemed conveyance. Rane said, “Most societies have CC. Those which lack CC or approved plans are illegal and will not be eligible for deemed conveyance.”