Amendment to Haryana Building Code-2017 opposed

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 6

Residents have opposed an amendment to the Haryana Building Code-2017 allowing the construction of the fourth floor on the existing houses.

They said the amendment would endanger the structural safety of old houses, where the maximum of three storeys could be constructed. “The rules regarding increased height and free area of stairs/ lifts are being willfully abused for personal benefit and at the cost of infringing upon the rights and safety of the existing owners,” said Jyoti Chaufla, an architect, in a representation to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

Till 2016, the old permissible floor area ratio (FAR) was 145 per cent for three floors. However, according to the Haryana Building Code-2016, it was increased to 198 per cent (66 per cent on each floor). In 2016, stilt parking was allowed and the total height was increased to 15 metre.

As opposed to the 2016 building code, a crucial change had been made in the Haryana Building Code-2017, which could wreck havoc on society, the representation alleged. “It allows ground plus three floors and stilt plus four floors. This is life threatening, especially for the existing/adjoining houses, as the foundations are built to support only up to 2.5/3 floors and adding another floor will lead to the collapse of the entire structure,” the representation alleged.

Under the new rules, the staircase area is counted only on the ground floor and treated as free area on upper floors, which is unheard of in the country. The representation urged the Chief Minister to intervene in the matter.