http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=87716

Architects may plan, certify buildings
Harpreet Bajwa

Chandigarh, June 14: GETTING building plans sanctioned would be less of
a headache. The UT Administration has decided, in principle, to
authorise private architects to sanction building plans, a work so far
handled by the Estate Office.

Finance Secretary Karan A Singh had mooted a proposal to revise the
procedure for sanctioning building plans of residential buildings,
except those falling under group housing schemes. The architect
department has now cleared the proposal, thus paving the way for its
implementation. With this, the Self Certification Scheme is all set to
be notified.

As per the proposal, private architects would make the building plan and
themselves certify it. Only architects registered with the Council of
Architecture, New Delhi, will be authorised to certify the plans. All
the 100-odd practising architects in the city, Mohali and Panchkula are
registered.

After drawing up and verifying the plan, the architect would submit it
at the Customer Relation Cell to be set up by the administration. The
receipt issued would be equivalent to the sanction letter now issued by
the Estate Office. It would enable the owner to get loans, water
connections and temporary electricity connections. The architect
department would randomly scan the plan and within 30 days, get back to
the private architect and ask him to rectify faults, if any.

After the building is ready, the architect would make a completion plan
or a measured drawing of the building. This would also be submitted to
the Customer Relation Cell, along with the compounding fee, if any.

The receipt of the completion plan would serve as the Occupation
Certificate. It would enable the owner to get sewerage, water, power and
other connections. External alterations from the sanctioned plan would
be allowed only after the permission of Chief Administrator (Capital
Project).

The Customer Relation Cell would cross-check details of ownership,
payments, no dues and send copies of the building plan to the Estate
Office for record. The system is in place in Noida and some parts of Delhi.

The rider
WHILE clearing the proposal, the architect department put a rider. If
the building plan or the building is not as per the specifications laid
down by the administration, then the Chief Architect will blacklist the
architect for a period of five years, impose a fine of Rs 10,000 on him
and also suspend his licence to practise. If the owner is found
responsible, the allotment to the plot may be cancelled. The Chief
Administrator (Capital Project) can also order any other action against
the owner, depending upon the merit of the case. A disciplinary
committee would be set up to look into the matter.