The Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI) requested the state CM Prithviraj Chavan to form two expert panels for the clearance of projects.

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI) has requested Prithviraj Chavan, the State CM, to appoint two expert panels for clearing the real estate projects.

MCHI asked for two panels which will be formed of five experts and structural engineers. MCHI has also asked the state CM to disperse the high-rise committee.

MCHI demands for expert panel.

Besides MCHI, some CREDAI– affiliated builders also met the CM. The Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India informed Prithviraj Chavan that the current clearance system is really burdensome to the builders.

The apex body of the builders argued that the equipment with the fire department is insufficient to reach skyscrapers with over 70 m height.

The builders argued that the committee is overloaded with the number of projects awaiting their approval. Thus the clearance becomes a lengthy process.

MCHI and CREDAI members meet Chavan.

Under the current process, the panel clears the project after checking the quality of the soil where the project is to be built. The committee also considers the fire-safety norms and stability of the structure. Only after analyzing all these facts, the civic body finally nods for the project.

Chavan assured the developers that he would discuss the issue with environment ministry as well as forest ministry. The CM said that he will ask these ministries to find solutions to the problems faced by the builders while developing high-rise projects.

Our concern is to develop projects with all safety measures, said a senior civic body official. He asks who will be responsible for the building collapse. He was pointing to the Thane Building collapse which took away many lives.

Many officials were alleged of clearing the Thane project without conducting proper study and against the law. If the expert panels are made then they will be held responsible for any building collapse. Meanwhile BMC officials said that they are working out a plan to grant the approval within two months’ time.