Siddhi Sai building collapse

BMC

NOC

Ghatkopar

municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta

Sunil Shitap

civic body

nonbailable offence

In the aftermath of, thewill be recruiting 257 new staffers to keep an eye on illegal construction. The staffers will undertake rounds of their wards and will report any major changes in buildings.Besides, the BMC has now made it mandatory to take anfrom the society if any flat owner is making changes to his flat. Without the NOC, no permissions will be given for construction. These are part of the recommendations submitted by the enquiry Committee that was set up after the collapse killed 17.The collapse of Siddhi Sai Housing society inin July shook the city as it killed 17 people. Soon after,constituted a committee headed by additional commissioner Vijay Singhal to probe the matter., who owned two ground floor flats, had undertaken a structural overhaul. The committee concluded that these structural changes were directly responsible for the collapse and recommended a slew of measures to prevent such mishaps. The commissioner, after submission of the report, had appointed officials to ensure its implementation.As part of the implementation, thewill now be recruiting 257 supervisors (mukadam) to keep an eye on illegal construction.“There had been no recruitment of supervisors for many years, leading to a shortage. We have issued advertisements for these posts, following which the supervisors will be given training. They have to report unauthorised construction in their areas,” informed Vinod Chithore, Director (Engineering Services and Projects).However, Chithore also stressed on the need for people to report such unauthorised works to the BMC through various means available.Another important decision is that every flat owner will require an NOC from the housing society before making any major changes. Without the NOC, the BMC’s Building Proposals department will not give permissions under their online application system.The civic body will also request the state government that unauthorised structural changes be made a