Press Release

• The idea of the press meet was to warn the NRIs while buying flats and property which does not have suitable setbacks,drainage and parking

Mangalore, Jan 17: The Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development, a non-governmental organization, has brought many serious matters concerning city planning and related issues to the fore by convening a press meet at the Press Club on Monday, January 16. 

In a press release, the forum says that Mangalore has been identified by the Govt of India as a highly earthquake prone urban centre, in Seismic Zone III. (As per Vulnerability Atlas of GOI, BMPTC, UNDP & Min of Home Affairs,2002.) In response to this, the DK District Administration is preparing a Comprehensive Disaster Management Plan for the District.

But in contrast to this initiative, high-rise buildings in contravention of all safety norms have been mushrooming all over the already-congested central part of our city. This has created concern and fear in the minds of citizens especially after the Gujarat earthquake brought home the truth that 'earthquakes don't kill, but poor building practices do'. Our corporators, in spite of being in charge of their Ward-level Disaster Management Committees, pushed people's panic buttons by unanimously resolving in the Council Meeting of October 29, 2005 that licences should be issued without waiting for NOC from the Fire and Emergency Services Department and with non-insistence on adherence to the National Building Code's Safety Norms.

Present at the press meet were Dorothy Vas,Commodore Cyril D Pereira, Sylvester D'Souza, Celine Aranha, founder, Shubhada and former vice-principal of Roshni Nilaya School of Social Work, Vidya Natesh and Dr K R Shetty, former dean, KMC 

In response to this alarming situation, with the intent to voice the people's concerns, and to insist on the planned and sustainable development of Mangalore, concerned citizens came together voluntarily to form an action group, as a subcommittee of the NGO Forum, called Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development. Until now the forum has been involved in advocacy at the local and state level on the issue of violation of safety norms by high-rises in Mangalore. Because of this forum's concerted efforts, local media support and proactive government officials, a government order was issued on December 27, 2005 to the 7 city Corporations of the state, including Mangalore City Corporation, making it mandatory for them to include NBC 2005 in the Municipal Bye-laws.
   
Here, though the NBC norms had been incorporated in the MCC Building By-laws in 1992 itself, the city administration had not insisted upon adherence to NBC norms till May 2005. This has been responsible for the haphazard mushrooming of high-rises on narrow roads. But since May 2005, building licenses were denied to building plans that have not adhered to NBC norms on safety. Since the new order makes adherence to NBC norms mandatory, the forum's stand is vindicated and it has now requested the people of Mangalore that:  

1. They should put pressure on their Corporators to work towards strict implementation of the government order dated December  27, 2005. 

2. Should desist from buying flats in unlicensed apartments. Should invest money in any apartment they want book/buy only after verifying relevant original documents.
  
3. If the flat they are investing in is licensed, they should still verify all the documents and should invest only after being convinced that the said apartment block has not violated any by-law and safety norms. This would ensure their interests are safeguarded even in the eventuality of a demolition.
  
Since May 2005, till end-December 2005, 22 high-rise apartments were refused building licences as they had not adhered to safety norms as per NBC. Despite this, in some areas, illegal construction activity is in full swing. Since the order justifies the decision of the MCC Commissioner to refuse licences to these buildings, we request the Commissioner MCC to:
  
1. Demolish the 10 + buildings which are in various stages of construction despite Fire Dept objections and licence being denied to them since May 2005.

2. Should not provide civic amenities like water and drainage connection to buildings in violation of building norms. 

Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development further demands that the MD of MESCOM should refuse power connection to the buildings which have no licence or which have violated building norms.
  
The ugly practice of regularizing illegal constructions or violations for a hefty penalty has been responsible for widespread violations. Therefore Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development insists that the Chief Minister of Karnataka :
  
1. Should amend the Karnataka Municipal Act to give powers to local bodies to seize and acquire illegal buildings and floors that have come in violation of building norms in order to discourage violations and illegal construction activity.

2. If buildings that have come up before May 2005 in Mangalore have violated building norms or were built without licence, and if those are already occupied, then suitable action should be taken against the people and officials responsible for permission to those buildings after an enquiry by the State Lokayukta.