Hyderabad: Over 95 per cent of buildings under GHMC limits fall under the deviated category while five per cent are totally illegal, which does not any construction permission.
Any structure “independent or apartment” which has violated the submitted building plan is in deviation, while a building which has not got GHMC building permission is illegal.
In most cases, the property buyers become the victims as it is they who will have to pay the penalty to regularise the structure. There are, however, cases wherein buyers are aware that the property or apartment they are buying is in deviation to the plan or totally illegal. Usually these properties have been sold at a discount.
As per the AP Building Rules 2012, every builder should mortgage 10 per cent of the built-up area with the GHMC and the same is released when the occupancy certificate is issued. In case the builder does not seek an OC, the GHMC has the right to occupy the 10 per cent mortgaged area. Till date, only one building, in Banjara Hills, was occupied by the GHMC under former commissioner M.T. Krishna Babu.
A Town Planning officer charges Rs 50,000 as bribe per illegal slab. Of this, Rs 20,000 goes to the local corporator. Once the planning inspector spots a site under construction (unauthorised), a notice is issued to demolish the deviated part as a matter of form. Private builders pay Rs 1 lakh per slab as bribe.
The planning inspectors keep an eagle eye on the constructions coming up as their bribes depend on it. Sources said that the department is aware of staff who advise owners on how to approach courts after receiving notices pertaining to unauthorised construction.
Though GHMC in 2008 had introduced the Green Channel to dispose building applications in four days, the Citizen Service Centres do not accept building applications without the consent of town planning official.
