KMC mulls to amend its building rules

Kolkata: Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is planning to bring an amendment in its existing building rules to allow extra Floor Area Ratio (FAR) on buildings beyond 5 cottah land. Presently, the state Fire and Emergency Services department provides No Objection Certificate (NOC) for constructing building up to a height of 15.5 m on 5 cottah land.

A person from Harish Mukherjee Road from Bhowanipore area called up at the Talk to Mayor programme on Saturday and urged for extra FAR on 6 cottah land.

"I had a meeting with the director-general of Fire department Jagmohan recently where it was decided that the latter will allow NOC up to 5 cottah. So, unfortunately FAR in case of your building cannot be allowed at this juncture. You have to wait for a few months as I intend to come up with an amendment in the existing KMC Building rules so that a standard regarding this can be fixed. I will hold talks with the Fire department, take opinion from our experts as well as those in the state government's building committee and the law department too," Hakim told the caller.

Later he told reporters that such requests of allowing extra FAR beyond 5 cottah land have come up from other urban local bodies, jurisdiction too which has made the Municipal Affairs department to take a serious thought in this regard. "I being the Mayor will recommend the matter to the state Municipal Affairs department and examine whether we can bring an amendment," he added. Interestingly, the Mayor himself holds the charge of MA department.

Presently, the state Fire and Emergency Services department gives NOC for construction of extra floors up to 15.5 m on 5 cottah land only after examining the security aspects.