Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC) has received only 40 applications from builders wanting to regularise constructions that have come up in deviation of norms, even as efforts are on to prepare a list of owners who have ignored directives to set right irregularities arising out of approved buildings plans not being adhered to.

“After inspecting buildings that have been built in deviation of the original plan, we had asked builders to get the illegal portions regularised in light of the Jharkhand Regularisation of Unauthorised/Deviated Constructions Areas Ordinance, 2011 in May last year. We started accepting the applications in May this year and the last date for submitting was August 18. The process of regularisation will be completed in the next three months,” special officer of JNAC R.N. Dwivedi said.

He added that most of the applications pertained to regularising additional floors that were not approved in the original building plan. Many also had to do with basements that have been converted into commercial units.

Dwivedi will chair a meeting on August 31, which will be attended by assistant engineers who clear building plans, sanitation inspectors and tax inspectors, where it will be decided how the applications would be processed.

“Though we will look into each of the 40 applications, only those meeting the required parameters would be approved. An additional floor constructed in deviation of the approved plan will deserve consideration, but approval for regularising more than one floor built in deviation will not. The floors which cannot be regularised have to be razed,” said the special officer.

The JNAC had last year identified 200 buildings that had come up flouting norms at Bistupur, Sakchi, Sonari, Kadma and Sitaramdera. During the same period, the civic body had also taken action against builders who had converted basements meant for parking into commercial spaces.

During the drive between March 2011 and May 2011 against misuse of basements, the JNAC had demolished over a dozen establishments operating in an unauthorised manner. However, soon afterwards the government introduced an ordinance declaring that builders could get deviated portions regularised by paying a penalty.

Speaking about those who have ignored orders to submit applications for regularising the deviations, Dwivedi said the civic body would soon initiate action against them.

“We have a list of all builders who have flouted norms, and also a list of those who have sought permission for regularisation. We will send notices to those who have turned a deaf ear to our directive and get the illegal constructions demolished,” the special officer said.

Meanwhile, sources in JNAC claimed that the civic body would entertain applications seeking regularisation as it will fetch revenue in the form of penalty from violators. However, there remained a question mark on what action the civic body could take against those who do not abide by directives.

“The JNAC is understaffed, and any step like razing deviated floors will prove a Herculean task,” said an official who did not wish to be identified.