Following the collapse of dilapidated structures in the recent times, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has asked the residents to get structural audit done of those buildings that are three decades old.
The civic body has made structural audit mandatory for all such rickety buildings and a report from the competent agencies must be submitted to the concerned department before March 31, 2024.
Civic officials have been instructed to issue notices under section 265A of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act (MMCA) to housing societies whose buildings are over 30 years old for conducting structural audits in time bound manner.
Meanwhile, NMMC has found as many as 528 structures unsafe to stay in a recently conducted survey as per the norms of MMCA Act.
The owners of such structures will be asked to submit a construction status certificate at the earliest. NMMC has also sought details from Cidco about the buildings constructed by the town planner that are more than 30 years old and accordingly the civic body will act.
“We have observed that residents of old buildings do not pay heed to our repeated appeal to get the structural audit done which compelled us to make the audit mandatory now. This is a serious issue. Further negligence on the part of the owners of old buildings will lead to the safety and security of their lives and property. Citizens realize the seriousness only after the disaster takes place. Officials have been told to deal with the issue on priority,” said Rajesh Narvekar, NMMC commissioner.
The civic Town Planning Department has been asked to prepare a list of buildings older than 30 years and force the societies to get the structural audit done through NMMC approved engineers.
All ward offices have been ordered to issue notices for conducting structural audits of old structures. The list NMMC approved structural engineers is made available on the website at www(dot)nmmc(dot)gov(dot)in.
NMMC has also warned housing societies that they will be penalised Rs. 25,000 if they don’t submit the structural audit report before the due date.
NMMC has aid that the owner and residents of such unsafe buildings are directed to vacate else they will be held responsible for any incident involving loss of lives and property.