Now, obtain your building's occupation certificate within 8 days in Maharashtra

MUMBAI: The urban development department led by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday made it mandatory to grant occupation certificate (OC) within eight days, building commencement certificate within 30 days and plinth-checking certificate within seven days. The decision will bring huge relief to people who are waiting for months to secure an OC.

According to an official order under the Maharashtra Right to Public Services Act, 2015, permission for tree- felling, as per the provision of the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975, will have to be granted within 45 days and online submission of inspection report in case of building permission, plinth-checking, occupation and tree-felling will have to be delivered within 48 hours from actual inspection of site.

On April 20, 2016, the urban development department had notified public services, along with designated officers, first- and second-appellate authorities and stipulated time limits for such public services.

A senior bureaucrat said that in view of the ambitious plan drafted by the NDA government to provide basic services in a time-bound period, as well as ease of doing business assessment, it was proposed to revise the time limit for providing basic services to people. "We have amended the existing limits and prescribed that occupation certificate be granted within eight days," he said.

The bureaucrat said that ever since Fadnavis took over the reins in October 2014, he had promised to bring in a comprehensive legislation for right to public services. "It was an attempt to provide corruption-free and transparent administration. It was for the first time that legislation has been enacted to provide public services. It's a well-known fact; it's very difficult to secure an occupation certificate in a municipal corporation. I am sure, with the revised limits, securing OC will be hassle-free," he said.