KARACHI, Sept 3: The illegal construction activity has greatly affected the very beauty of the city as well as over-burdened utilities and as a result people living in all parts of the city had been facing problems and hardships.

Regularization of illegal buildings is no solution to problem and the construction activity in the city mandatorily be regularized.

This was stated by Chief Controller of Buildings, Mumtaz-ur- Rehman while talking to newsmen here on Tuesday.

Replying to a question, Mumtaz-ur-Rehman explained in clear terms that the KBCA is not a revenue-generating authority, but a regulatory body meant to regulate construction activity in the city in its legal form.

“The impression that the KBCA is a revenue authority is a misconception which must go,” he added.

The KBCA chief he would stand for regulating the construction activity.

He recalled that in the past regularization scheme was announced twice during which all illegally constructed buildings were regularized. He said this scheme was misused as builders who had constructed one floor illegally, constructed additional three to four floors and got them regularized under the scheme.

To a question, the CCOB said indiscriminate construction of marriage halls was also in gross violation of building rules and he is not in favour of their regularization.

Replying to another question, Mr Mumtaz said he had introduced a system of “open kutchery” whereby complaints and problems of aggrieved people are redressed on the spot. He said this, too, is proving fruitful in containing corruption as well as illegal acts by constructors.

Similarly, he said the building plans of bigger plots are approved only after a presentation is made by the owner/builder.

In the presentation, the presence of structure engineer, vetting engineer, architect and all other concerned persons is a necessary pre-requisite so that all objections thereof are sorted out then and there and clients are not made to keep visit the offices of concerned officials.

Regarding one-window facility, he said that introduction of facility for approval of building plans in respect of plots of 60, 80, 120 and 199 sq yards has proved a great success.

Following positive response from the public, the Karachi Building Control Authority is now considering extending the facility in respect of plots beyond 200 square yards up to 400 square yards to facilitate larger segment of people.

He pointed out that this system succeeded only because previously people had to run from pillar to post for almost six to eight months to get their building plans approved. But, now once they fulfil all the formalities as per check-list provided to them, the plan is given back to them approved just in one day.

He said the applicant is also provided three standard designs of houses which he may wish to construct and if he opts for one of them, it is given to him with the approved plan.

This results in saving of time which earlier used to be consumed in running after the architects as well as in the saving of fee, paid to the architect, if he constructs the house as per the approved standard design, Mr Mumtaz said.

The chief controller said previously an applicant used to submit application on a piece of paper, but now quality forms are produced, printed from Security Printing Press and also carrying security features, for submission as an application.

He said this form with security features also carries the photograph of the applicant for which he need not to go to a photo shop, but his photograph is taken at the counter where form is submitted.

He said this system had brought relief to 80 per cent population whose problems now stand redressed.

Mumtaz-ur-Rehman said one-window facility is getting popularity day-by-day and it can be judged from the fact that just within five months the number of plans submitted under this system increased from five in March to 179 in June and 172 in July.

During this period, he informed, 14 plans were submitted in respect of plots of 60 square yards, 147 for plots of 80 square yards, 288 for plots of 120 square yards and 83 in other cases up to 199 square yards.

He said since March 25 to 31 to July, an amount of Rs4.4651 million was collected as scrutiny fee.—APP