Owners of small plots can be offered concessions like more built-up area or additional floors to discourage illegal construction in relatively small buildings, mayor Firhad Hakim said on Friday.

Hakim said owners of such plots often construct some illegal portions because the building rules of the KMC allow very little built-up space. The building that finally comes up adhering to the rules lacks enough space to accommodate all members of a family, the mayor said.

If the KMC relaxes its building rules and allows more built-up space, owners will not erect illegal structures, the mayor said. It will also ensure the quality of construction as the KMC will scan the building’s plan before it is approved.

An official of the civic body said that under the current KMC building rules, which came into effect in 2009, the same conditions apply to all plots measuring 125sq m (a little less than two cottahs) or less.

The mandatory open space around the building is the same for a plot that is 50sq m and for one that measures 120sq m. This discriminates against owners of very small plots, the official said.

The official said the proposal is to have separate sets of rules for plots between 40sq m (about half a cottah) and 75sq m (a little more than a cottah) and those
that measure less than 40sq m.

“The requirement of mandatory open space will shrink with the size of the plot. The objective is to provide legal nod to buildings on very small plots,” said the official.

The KMC is working on the amendments to the building rules and will send the proposals to the state government soon. The government’s nod is needed to implement the amendments, Hakim said.

“We are working on possible changes to the building rules. If a plot is small, the owner has to leave less open space than what will be required for a larger plot. We will also allow more vertical expansion on smaller plots,” Hakim said.

“The current rules prohibit owners of small plots to erect adequate built-up space. They take approval for one floor and then add more. But if we allow
relaxation, they will not need to add illegal floors. This can stop the tendency to construct illegal portions in a building.”

The mayor said the changes will not take effect immediately. “We will send the proposed amendments to the state government. If they approve, we will publish the amendments and invite claims and objections from the public,” he said.

Hearings will be conducted based on claims and objections to be submitted.

Regularisation

The KMC is also mulling a limitation on regularisation of illegal portions in a building — 10 per cent of the constructed area.

The KMC Act does nothave any capping onregularisation.

The special officer (building), a quasi-judicial authority who hears complaints ofillegal construction, canorder the demolition of an unauthorised structure orregularise it.

The officer has to act within what is permitted in the KMC Act, which does notmention any capping,Hakim said.

Regularisation refersto legal approval of illegal structures.

The amendment will introduce the capping.

“We will not allow regularisation beyond 10 per cent of the total constructed area,” Hakim said.