Activists blame BMC for going soft on builders

Activists blame the civic authorities for not enforcing the rules on parking spaces, thus, allowing builders to go scot-free.

Activists blame the civic authorities for not enforcing the rules on parking spaces, thus, allowing builders to go scot-free.

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Implementing a little-known provision of the Developmen Control (DC) Regulations, 1991, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ordered Gokul Nagari Co-operative Housing Society in Kandivli to mark parking spaces for visitors.

According to Section 36(2) of the DC Regulations, residential buildings in the island city must reserve 25 per cent of their parking space for visitors, and buildings in the suburbs must reserve 10 per cent of its parking area.

Vinod Sampat, president of the Co-operative Societies Residents & Users Association, said the implementation of this little-known provision could have major consequences. “If the BMC cracks down on builders, they will have no option but to mark visitors’ parking spaces. This could also dissuade them from selling these spaces at exorbitant rates.”

The BMC directive came after Gokul Nagari resident Sunil Ahya, following a parking disagreement, made queries under the RTI Act and found this provision. He then filed a complaint with the municipal corporation.

This rule holds greater significance as builders regularly ‘sell’ parking spaces, though they are not supposed to charge for the same.

“The problem with implementing this DC rule provision is that residents own two to three cars, and there’s hardly any space left to be reserved for visitors. Hence, we don’t insist on the strict implementation of this provision, ” said a senior civic official, on condition of anonymity due to lack of authority to talk to the media.

“The BMC ensures that the builder marks the parking spaces for visitors. However, if it is not being implemented then the BMC can’t do much. If a resident finds that the rule is not being implemented, he can complain and the housing society could be charged under the Cooperative Societies Act,” said Deepak Kulkarni, deputy chief engineer (building proposals), western suburbs II.