While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is in the process of listing the dilapidated buildings before the monsoon, it is estimated that more than 50 percent of the total 31,000 registered residential societies needs a structural audit. Residential buildings which have crossed more than 15 years are expected to undergo a structural audit every five years whereas the ones over 30 need to undergo an audit every three years.
However, civic officials claim that residential societies are not willing to come forward as structural audit and the required repair work will incur significant expenses.
As per the provision of section 353B of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act 1888, the owner/occupants of the residential/nonresidential buildings or the cooperative housing society, it is obligatory to them to submit the Structural Stability Certificate to the assistant commissioner of the respective civic ward offices. The submission should take place within a period of 30 days on the completion of every three years
However, civic officials said that the preparation of a list of dangerous and dilapidated buildings in the city is a very complex issue. “If the assistant commissioner of any ward categorizes the building as dilapidated, the residents accuse the BMC of helping private developers to grab the building for redevelopment and approach the court.
The societies are bound to submit the structural audit report. But if the societies don’t bother to carry out an audit, the BMC reserves the right to conduct a structural audit of such weak buildings and penalize,” said a senior official.
Ramesh Prabhu, Chairman of Maharashtra Society Welfare Association said that residential societies are risking their lives and properties by avoiding structural audit and repairs.
“Housing societies need to understand that carrying out periodical repairs will enhance the stability of their buildings. Of the 31,000 cooperative housing societies in Mumbai, not even 10 percent of structures undergo the audit. Despite strict regulation from the civic body in this regard. At least 15-16,000 buildings must have been registered prior to 1994 and now they might be in need of urgent repair work,” said Prabhu. He also added that the cooperative housing society by-laws provide for carrying out the structural audit of buildings aged above 15 years, once in every 5 years.
