The state government on Thursday decided to amend civic laws to make its directives to municipal bodies binding on them. It was also decided to hike the FSI for private hospitals on the payment of a premium.

The decision take by the state cabinet will enable the government to issue directives to municipal corporations and councils on policy matters, their duties and responsibilities, matters concerning public interest and national and state programmes, which would be binding on these local bodies. It will also enable the state government to issue suo motu orders in these matters to municipal bodies and an ordinance in this regard would be issued soon.

Senior urban development department officials said the state government currently had no powers to issue such binding directives to the municipal corporations, and could only cancel the decisions taken by the local bodies, which it felt were outside the purview of law. However, no binding directives on issues like making rain water harvesting, solar panels for buildings and double entry accounting systems mandatory could be issued, but only suggestions can be made in this regard by the state.

The cabinet also approved additional FSI to private hospitals in Mumbai on the payment of a premium and decided to amend the development control regulations accordingly. Like the hospitals owned by the government and registered charitable trusts, the private hospitals too will get 300 per cent extra FSI in Mumbai city and 400 per cent in the suburbs, which works out to an FSI of 5.32 and 5 respectively.

The private hospitals will have to pay a premium of 20 per cent on the ready reckoner rates for the extra FSI, which in turn would be shared between the state and the BMC in a 50:50 ratio. The private hospitals getting the enhanced FSI will have to reserve 10 per cent of their beds for the economically weaker sections (EWS) and the below poverty line (BPL) families and reserve 5 per cent of the out-patient department for concessional services to these sections.

‘Keep building facades in good shape or face fine’
Soon, residents or owners of buildings may have to face a penalty in case the facade of their building is left in a state of disrepair. The state cabinet on Thursday approved an amendment in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act to ensure that guiding principles regarding keeping the facade of buildings in a good shape and beautifying a specified area are included in them. The residents or owners will also be required to ensure that the facade is not spoilt by cracks, stains and overhanging wires and cables.

In case the municipal corporation finds that an outer facade of a building is in disrepair, the commissioner can then issue a notice to the owners and the residents. It will be binding on them to comply with the directions within 30 days, failing which action can be taken by the commissioner, with the concerned being forced to cough up the necessary charges. Penalties will be charged on late payment.