AHMEDABAD, Sept 28: Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner B K Sinha stated that the concept of charging impact fee for floor space index (FSI) violation was not implemented as it would send a wrong message among the builder community.Interestingly the the general board of the corporation earlier on September 15 decided to announce 25 per cent discount to those who voluntarily pay the amount within 60 days of issuing the circular by the commissioner.Talking to reporters here on Monday, Sinha said that he was not in favour of collecting impact fee for FSI violation, because collection of such fees would actually encourage illegal constructions in the city. He said this would sent a wrong signal to the builder community that even if they flout AMC norms, there remains provisions through which later it could be regularised. He said the administration was also conducting a study on whether they could take impact fee or not.However, he said that he individually was of opinion that the corporation and the State government should allow FSI up to four in areas which can take the load of infrastructure development but it was not possible to some extent in the city as it would lead to congestion, traffic chaos and many other problems.He said that in areas which would take the load of development, such violation of FSI could be regularised.Further Sinha said the corporation would keep a tab on town planning violations in buildings under construction. He said it was the main priority for the corporation to check further violations. He stated that for covering balconies, the corporation can collect the fee as it would not amount to increase of FSI.The town planning committee had on June 25 cleared the proposal to collect an impact fee for violation of FSI ranging between Rs 1,500 and Rs 6,000 per square metre, while the same for covering balcony (to extend rooms) or fitting grills would range from Rs 400 to Rs 1,500 per square metre.He said the corporation is also serious about parking violations and stated that several shops in the city were sealed and many others were in the pipeline. Regarding C G Road, he said many of the cases were pending in the court and once they will be settled, the corporation would take action as per the court's order. He said emphasis on parking provisions was given in buildings under construction also.Regarding fire safety norms, he said the corporation was checking the legal aspect as to whether they can impose fine. The fine as per the act was only Rs 100. Moreover, he said the corporation was working out a formula with the society and the builders to implement fire safety norms especially in high rise buildings.
