the goan I network
MAPUSA
In what could be a rare case, Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) has revoked the occupancy certificate issued by it earlier to a multi-level building in the city for failing to fulfil specified conditions.
MMC Chief Officer Clen Madeira recently issued an order revoking part occupancy issued to Prabhu Chambers, a six-floor construction near the Mapusa church.
The order assumes significance as the decision came within little over a month after some of the occupants of the building filed a complaint against gross irregularities by the builder.
According to the complainants, the basement of the building reserved for parking was covered with water which also submerged the electrical meter panels.
They also said that water had entered into the duct of the elevator and it was not in working condition.
The complainants further declared that a kiosk blocked the entrance to the basement whereas the NGPDA approved plans stated that the structure should be demolished.
On the instruction of the chief officer, the engineering department conducted a site inspection of the construction and found that most of the indiscretions stated by the complainants were true.
The urban health department also inspected the site and wrote to the civic body that water collection in the basement of the building was a potential breeding site for mosquitoes.
It also said that since the water had reached the electrical meter panels it could endanger human lives.
“Considering that the occupants are put to severe hardship on account of the failure of the builder in rectifying the faults/flaws notified at the time of inspection, any further delay in passing order in the matter will only lead to more injustice to the occupants of the building,” Madeira said in one of his hearings.
He passed an order on August 30 directing the builder, Venkatesh Prabhu Moni, to clear the water-logging in the basement and the elevator duct to ensure functioning of the elevator with power backup, install a transformer, remove the kiosk as per the NGPDA plan, make parking area functional and to submit fire NOC within 48 hours.
Since the builder failed to comply with the directions, the occupancy certificate to the building was withdrawn.
Incidentally, Mapusa Police has also filed an FIR against the builder under Section 420 (cheating) and 336 (endangering lives) based on the plaint.
Imran Sayed, Jitesh Kamat and Kishor Bhaidkar are some of the complainants.
RTI activist and resident of Mapusa, Jawaharlal Shetye, said that during the Ruby Residency building collapse incident in Canacona, the Director of Municipal Administration had issued a circular to all the chief officers to review all constructions for any irregularities.
“In the case of Prabhu Chambers, occupancy certificate was issued to a building which was incomplete and endangering the lives of the occupants/complainants. An FIR should also be filed against Mapusa Municipal Council for not following the DMA’s circular,” Shetye said.
