MYSORE: The Mysore City Corporation (MCC) will make it mandatory for builders to procure a "commencement certificate" before they are allowed to raise the construction above the foundation stone level.

This will come into effect from November 1, 2006 and will be binding on all commercial and residential constructions in the corporation limits. This was decided at a meeting between the corporation, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), members of the Indian Institute of Architects, Institution of Engineers, staff from the University School of Design and the Association of Concerned and Informed Citizens of Mysore (ACICM) among others.

Making it compulsory to acquire the certificate from the authorities concerned will help curb building bylaw violations. Though the existing law provides for such a clause, it has not been implemented. Corporation Commissioner K.N. Chandrashekar said at the meeting that the compulsory procurement of the commencement certificate existed under the present law but was not strictly enforced. The builders were taking advantage of the corporation's lenient view on building bylaw violations as evident in its practice of regularising 25 per cent of violation on payment of penalty. Lakshman of the ACICM told The Hindu that the corporation would constitute a team that would inspect the foundation stone laid for the construction of a new structure and tally it with the approved building plan. If there was any discrepancy, it would be brought to the notice of the authorities who would remove the foundation stone. The builder would have to comply with the law by laying afresh the foundation stone. "This is not only expected to prevent further violations of the building bylaw, but the loss accruing out of it will be relatively less for the builder if it was demolished at the foundation stone level itself," Mr. Lakshman said.

In view of the fact that the city is witnessing a construction boom and the sector is bound to expand, it may be impossible for the corporation to keep a tab on all new buildings cropping up in the city. The corporation is likely to accept a proposal to constitute a panel of experts.

It was revealed that 95 per cent of the buildings in Mysore have violated the building bylaw regulations ranging from one percent to 100 per cent and this trend needed to be curbed in view of the city's projected growth and expansion. A majority of the participants were of the opinion that the new provision to implement the existing law and constitution of a neutral panel of experts should be in place before the councillors are elected. This was seen as imperative as the elected representatives may have a vested interest in allowing building bylaw regulations and may resist the constitution of a neutral panel.

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