MMRDA, RNA Corporation Flouting Rules

Posted by admin Exclusive, India, Latest News, Lead, Politics Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

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BH reveals close connections between Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Corporation and RNA Corporation.

RTI reply found many irregularities in the projects being undertaken by the RNA Corporation.

Afroz Alam Sahil, BeyondHeadlines

Mumbai: Mumbai has become the capital of corruption, especially in the construction business, perhaps, because of the highest property rates in India. Cheating property buyers, flouting the rules, getting the requisite papers and plans approved sometimes in advance, selling refuge and other free of FSI areas and construction and sale of illegal floors are common these days in the financial capital of India.

Thanks to Right to Information (RTI) Act activist Sulaiman Bhimani, who took a long and hard look at one such project of RNA Corporation project at Somani Gram, Oshiwara.

Talking to BeyondHeadlines, Sulaiman Bhimani,an interior designer, said: "Something very strange is going on between the builder RNA Corporation and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Corporation (MMRDA), until recently, headed by Ratnakar Gaikwad, who is currently the chief secretary of Maharashtra."

Sulaiman, through the RTI reply, found many irregularities in the ongoing project. First of them, he said: "MMRDA has approved the plan for ground floor plus two parking podium and 14 storey for residential, but according to the website of the RNA, the builder is actually undertaking construction of basement, ground floor, 12 floor for parking, 2 floors for swimming pool and 36 floor for residence."

Under the RTI, Bhimani uncovered some more startling facts. He said: "RNA Exotica and the commercial building near it got both the Intimation of Approval (IOA) and Commencement Certificate (CC) on August 5, 2009. The IOA dated August 5, 2009, lists numerous conditions to be fulfilled before commencement of work."

He further said that it involved getting various no objection certificates (NOCs) and approvals from the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), chief fire Officer and numerous other authorities. Some of these conditions require physical and on-site verification by MMRDA's people. Only after these verifications can CC rightly be issued, he said. But these were presumably issued on the very same day, Bhimani added.

RNA Builders has also encroached on the public road with its walls and is using it for site office and storage of materials.

Sulaiman Bhimani also alleged that MMRDA accepts RNA Corp's non-dated completion and occupation certificates issued by S V Thakker & Associates, Architect of RNA and a government approved surveyor and valuer.

The most important part of the story, Bhimani, said is despite complaints in the police station, MMRDA and other authorities concerned, no action has been taken so far.