Strict rules to be implemented for constructions in flood-prone areas: DC Ponnuraj

Strict rules to be implemented for constructions in flood-prone areas: DC Ponnuraj

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, June 28: Artificial flooding and landslides during heavy monsoons prove that the houses and layouts in the city are poorly constructed, said DC V. Ponnuraj adding that the district administration will not tolerate such discrepancies anymore.

He further said that a revised master plan of the city with special rules for constructions in flood-prone and low-lying areas will soon be implemented.

Ponnuraj told reporters of “mangaloretoday” that all artificial flooding and landslides in the city were because of human activities. He said that natural drainage systems were blocked while constructing houses and layouts and low-lying areas were dangerously filled up before construction. Landslides have occurred on hills that had been dangerously and carelessly excavated.

The DC said that constructions should ideally be banned on low-lying areas; however, this is impossible in case of urban areas. The next best thing to do is to provide guidelines for constructions in low-lying areas.

All low-lying and flood-prone areas will first be indentified with the help of competent technical institutions such as NITK, Suratkal, after which builders approaching the civic body for building clearances will have to undergo a special process involving scrutiny of building applications by a technical engineering institute. The institute will study the construction site and devise a set of  guidelines for the construction based on important factors such as natural drainage systems and the required land fill in case of low-lying areas. The builder will have to bear the costs involved in conducting the study.

Ponnuraj accused the real estate mafia of not following the best construction practices, owing to which the district administration has to enforce the above-mentioned measures. He also declared that buildings that do not follow the established norms will not be eligible for compensation in case of rain-related damages.