Surplus land norm: SoBo builder booked

MUMBAI: Another south Mumbai builder has been booked on the complaint of the Mumbai Building and Repairs and Reconstruction Board for failing to surrender surplus land and causing it a loss of Rs 2.5 crore.
Abdullah Patel redeveloped a building in Agripada in 2003 and under rules was supposed to surrender 115.2 sq m land, said a complaint made to the city police's economic offences wing (EOW) by Sanjay Varade, deputy engineer of the board.
Mhada, the state housing authority, has been sending legal notices to builders asking them to surrender surplus area after redevelopment projects have been completed as many have defaulted. According to the Development Control Rules (DCR 33-7), the total floor space index (FSI) - building ratio - should be 2.5 of the gross plot area or the FSI required for rehabilitation of existing occupiers plus 50% incentive FSI, whichever is higher. Any surplus built-up area has to be surrendered to Mhada.
Last month, EOW arrested Prakash Jayantilal Mehta of Shreeji builders for not surrendering 473 sq m to the board and causing it a loss of Rs 10 crore.
The police said the board had sent several reminders from 2000 to 2017 to Patel asking him to surrender the surplus land. Abdullah recently replied that in 2005, his firm had handed over two flats of United Crystal building to the board. But the board told the police it could not find any such record.
"When the board sent its officials to check Crystal building, they found the flats mentioned by Patel occupied. They then lodged an FIR, saying as per ready reckoner rates, the builder has caused a loss of Rs 2.5 crore," said a police officer.