BMC to discuss power, water cut in bldgs without OC

During the standing committee meeting on Wednesday, the civic administration will table a proposal to disconnect water and electricity supply to newly constructed buildings that have not obtained occupation certificate (OC) from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Dilip Lande, a corporator from Kurla and the then group leader of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), had put up the proposal during the general body meeting in March 2017. Lande had demanded that the BMC should not give water connection to buildings that have not obtained OC from the civic body. Apart from Lande, other corporators too had demanded the same during the meeting.

Corporators had alleged that there are many buildings in the city which have not obtained OC from BMC, but are selling flats to gullible buyers. "Several builders sold flats to several buyers without obtaining OC and fled," said Lande. He added that it is the flat buyers who face difficulty while getting civic facilities.

According to civic officials, so far buildings constructed after getting permission from BMC's building proposal department are given water connection on humanitarian grounds although they do not have OCs. But residents in those buildings have to pay double the charge for water connection.

However, BMC has also its constitutional obligation to provide water on a community basis by laying water mains and water taps. "In keeping with Supreme Court and High Court order, and MCGM Act 1888, Government of Maharashtra has already given in principle approval to provide water through community basis by laying water mains and water taps," said an official.

But, if the civic body takes decision of disconnecting water supply, it will affect thousands residents of newly constructed buildings in the city which have not obtained OC.

However, an official from the hydraulic department said that the civic body will continue to provide water to such buildings.