Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has decided to crack the whip on building owners and societies of apartments and commercial establishments who don’t use rainwater harvesting and fire-fighting systems despite having facilities installed.

A notice will be issued in public gazettes and newspapers this week, asking all G+3 building owners or societies, who got plans sanctioned under The Amended Ranchi Planning Standard and Building Bylaws, 2009, to make sure that rainwater harvesting and fire fighting systems were functional within July 25.

“If builders don’t adhere to the regulation, their approved plans would be cancelled and action initiated against them,” said RMC chief executive officer Dipankar Pande on Sunday.

The Amended Ranchi Planning Standard and Building Bylaws, 2009, decrees that all four-storey buildings and above must do both — harvest rainwater and follow fire safety measures.

“We have a list of around 550 buildings, which had specified provisions for rainwater harvesting and fire-fighting measures at the time of submitting their building plans to the RMC for approval,” Pande said.

The civic body will constitute a special team to carry out surprise checks in these buildings from July 25.

Apart from inspecting rainwater harvesting mechanisms, the nominated individuals of the buildings, who can handle firefighting equipment, will be asked to demonstrate if the gadgets function.

If found not, strict action would be taken against errant owners or bodies running the show.

When asked what would be the nature of the punishment, Pande said: “The kind of punitive measures taken against building or bodies flouting provisions would be decided during our meeting scheduled on July 25.”

He, however, added the building owners or societies would be given one more chance before action is taken against them.

After the team completes checking all the buildings, a list of offenders will be made. The RMC will release another notice, mentioning names and serving them an ultimatum to correct themselves.

Those following the rules will be rewarded by the civic body.

“We will try to host a special programme where the buildings /flat owners’ associations will be felicitated,” Pande added.