MGP had recently issued a press statement highlighting the violation of a
Government Order by Mysore City Corporation.This referred to the
Karnataka State Government notification No. NaAI:628:MNY:2003 dated
19-12-2003 which mandates that all high-rise buildings (HRBs meaning,
buildings having five (1+4) floors or more or taller than 15 meters) in
Mysore should strictly follow the National Building Code on the
provision of fire prevention and fire-fighting equipment. The GO further
states that a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the fire department
is mandatory before licence to build a multi-storeyed building is
issued. Also, a clearance certificate from the fire department is
compulsory for issuing a completion report. Despite this GO and numerous
reminders from the fire department, MCC has continued to allow
high-rise buildings without the required NOC from the fire department.
Now another violation of a government notification has come to
our notice. According to Sec. 827 of the Indian Railways Works Manual,
any building constructed within 30 meters (about 100 feet) from a
railway line by either private parties or municipal authorities must
obtain a No Objection Certificate from the railways before construction.
The purpose of this restriction is obvious. It is to conserve adjacent
lands to meet future development needs of the railways (such as double
tracking, electrification, etc.). Construction in this corridor makes
acquisition of the land very difficult if structures exist in the
corridor. Understanding this necessity of the Railways, the Government
of Karnataka has issued an order No. HUD 128 GEL 84 (dated 20-10-1984)
to all the local bodies in Karnataka that NOC from the Railways is
mandatory for any construction in the 60 m wide corridor through which a
railway line passes.
But MCC is levelling the land in Yadavagiri next to the
Arasikere Railway line to construct some buildings supposedly under the
JNNURM project. This land is within 30 m of the railway line and despite
the nearby residents raising legal objections, work seems to be going
on without getting an NOC from the Railways. Why is MCC so bent on
violating the Government notification? Why are the Railways keeping
quiet?
B.V. Shenoy, Mysore Grahakara Parishat