State mulls ways to solve problem of illegal buildings

NAGPUR: 'Compounding irregularities' (regularizing illegal constructions by paying a fine) for constructions was being considered by the state government within the present framework of the law to do away with illegalities in urban development, said chief minister Prithviraj Chavan in his statement before the state assembly on Friday.
He was speaking against the backdrop of the resignations tendered by some legislators from Pimpri Chinchwad who had objected to the state government remaining tight-lipped over the demolition of a large number of illegal constructions in their constituencies by the civic authorities.
Chavan said the government was giving additional FSI (floor space index) to the housing schemes which were part of the redevelopment of dilapidated and cess-paying buildings besides those being built under the slum rehabilitation programme.
"However, it is proposed to come up with better provisions based on the recommendations of the committee led by urban development principal secretary so as to promote cluster, slum rehabilitation and other redevelopment policies," he said. A public hearing would be held for objections and suggestions.
CM had made it clear in his speech last week in the assembly that making the cluster policy an attractive one was a challenge before the government since there were only two schemes going on in Mumbai under the existing cluster policy. He said only the 'pencil' (one-building-one-plot) schemes were being preferred by the developers due to certain reasons. CM has promised to come up with cluster policy for cities other than Mumbai separately after a month's time.