TP Section: AMC to focus on builders selling properties without completion certificates; May take stern action

Aurangabad, Nov 2:

The town planning section of Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has started preparing a list of builders, who had not obtained completion certificates from the office and had or are selling their properties to the citizens. The AMC may even think of filing criminal offences against the violators, stressed the sources.

The city is witnessing the construction of many multi-storey buildings in the past decade. However, around 50 per cent builders had sold out their flats and properties without procuring a completion certificate from the AMC''s TP section.

The TP section of AMC had issued 8,000-10,000 building permissions from 2010 to 2019. It includes permissions granted to more than 2,000 big builders as well. However, around 50 per cent of builders obtained the completion certificates, but the remaining did not turn up during these years. They preferred selling their flats or properties without the completion certificates. Many occupants'' complained of facing problems while re-selling their flats. They underlined that the prospective buyer is demanding or inquiring about the completion certificate with them. It is then these first-owners realised about their cheating. Generally, the builders take advantage as common citizens avoid instigating legal battle against them. Meanwhile, it is for sure that the AMC sustained crores of rupees loss due to these ''default'' builders (who had not obtained the completion certificates).

It so happened that the town planning section had started preparing the list of builders, who had not obtained the certificates. After finalisation of the list, the builders would be given a chance to obtain the document. If they fail to respond then the AMC under Section 52 of Town Planning Act will file offences against them. The act has made it mandatory for the builders to obtain a completion certificate. There is no way out to it, said the sources.

The current financial year target collection of the Town Planning section set by the administrator is Rs 100 crore. The section officials collected Rs 25 crore, so far. There are five months in the hands of the TP officials. Hence they had plans to issue completion certificates with some fine before the end of March, it is learnt.