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Gurugram: The Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) has decided to allow empaneled architects to issue occupancy certificates (OCs) for plotted houses in licensed colonies.
The move is aimed at expediting the process of obtaining an OC and making it easier for the home owner. But it has also raised concerns about architects fudging award papers and violations such as illegal extensions going undetected.
Officials assured that there would be random checking of building plans and actual constructions and the architect concerned would be held accountable and blacklisted in case of violations. But the checks will be limited to only 10% of the sites at any point of time.
The current process for obtaining OC is very elaborate and time consuming. Architects are now required to submit applications for the buildings they have planned to the DTCP. After checking the documents at several levels, a team visits the house and inspects whether the construction has been done as per the Haryana Building Code, 2017. OC is given only after the DTCP team gives its approval. The process can last for several weeks and even months.
DTCP Director General TL Satyaprakash said that allowing architects to give OC would speed up the entire process. “It has been decided that the architect shall be the competent authority to issue the occupation certificate as per the Haryana Building Code 2017 under the self-certification policy,” read the order signed by him.
It also laid down the standard procedure which should be followed by the architects before awarding the certificate. “First of all, the owner of a building has to submit a request to the architect as defined under HBC 2017. The Architect should keep a record of all such applications. Second, the architect must inform the department in writing that he has not been served a show cause notice or blacklisted by any government agency.
According to the order, the architect will have to thoroughly examine all documents, such as the approved building plan, deviations marked thereon, photographs of the front and rear area, interior finishes and structural competency certificates. If the building is “complete in all respects”, then the architect can give OC under the self-certification policy.
After receiving all the relevant documents, the Architect will have eight days to give the OC. After issuing the OC, they have to submit the copies of the certificates and all other records to the DTCP within three days.
The Satyaprakash order agreed that there could be instances of architects violating their “professional ethics” in order to award certificates. “Therefore, the DTPs (District Town Planners) in all districts shall be liable to scrutinize 10% of the OC received from the architects.”
Since the architects will be held accountable if violations are found after the OC is granted, they may lose their license and may be blacklisted. “The department may also recommend to the registering authority not to register any floor/building of such architects.”
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