Navi Mumbai: Following a department-wise survey of existing buildings within its jurisdiction, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) declared 500 buildings dangerous under the category specified in Section 264 of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act. The NMMC issued notices to the respective cooperative housing societies to vacate buildings in the C-1 category, as per the order of the high court. According to NMMC, over 500 structures were declared unsafe for human habitats in their current form. Under Section 265 (A) of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, the concerned housing society must get a structural audit of buildings that are more than 30 years old and in use. The audit has to be carried out by a structural engineer registered with the civic body panel. Under the Cooperative Housing Societies Act, 1968, a structural audit must be conducted at least once in five years if the life expectancy of the building is between 15 and 30 years. As per item 76 (a) (ii) of the 1968 Act, audit must be conducted at least once in three years if the life expectancy of the building is more than 30 years.NMMC said, it was observed in the recent past that during internal renovation works in existing buildings, including replacement of flooring and repairs to internal RCC columns and beams, slabs collapsed on the lower floors. Considering the provisions of the Integrated Development Control and Promotion Rules applicable to the NMMC and the Maharashtra Regional Planning and Town Planning Act, 1966, NMMC said that if permission is required to carry out repairs or strengthening within or outside the building, then while carrying out repairs in internal and external areas, it is mandatory to obtain permission from NMMC through a structural engineer registered with the civic body and to carry out the work under their supervision.NMMC said that where permission is not required for internal alteration work as per the provisions of the regulations, the work should be done under the supervision of a registered structural engineer. “It is necessary to inform the society, and the concerned society would be required to do the work under the supervision of a registered structural engineer. If any accident occurred due to such work in the future, the concerned flat holder and the chairman or secretary of the society would also be held responsible,” said NMMC and made a public appeal to citizens, cooperative housing societies and office bearers of the society to take note of the unfortunate incidents that occurred in the past, and advised citizens to take note of these matters and initiate appropriate action and precautions.
