Nov. 27: The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has decided to tighten its noose around private architects and engineers who have supervised the construction of multistorey buildings that violated building bylaws.

A GMDA source said after the Gauhati High Court directive to take action against those responsible for violation of building bylaws, the authorities have decided to make the Registered Technical Personnel (RTP), comprising private architects and engineers, accountable.

“When someone applies for permission to construct a building, he or she must submit the drawing, which should be endorsed by a competent architect and it is the duty of the architect to ensure that the approved design adheres to the norms,” the official said.

He added that a competent engineer is required to give an undertaking to the GMDA that the building will be constructed according to the Bureau of Indian Standards.

“In a judgment passed by Gauhati High Court on September 27, the court said the buildings have deviated from the prescribed norms because of lack of supervision and inspection. The high court advocated action against those who are responsible for such lapses,” the source said.

“The GMDA has decided to take action against the architect if it is found that the drawing approved by the authorities has not been followed. Similarly, engineers will also be held accountable in case of violations related to the structural safety of the building,” he added.

The technical personnel are required to supervise the construction regularly, according to the building bylaws.

“The failure of the technical personnel to point out any deviation in the construction and to report these to the GMDA is an offence. Therefore, the GMDA has asked the personnel to take note of this and avoid penal action against them in the future,” the official source said.

He said if the architects or engineers fail to discharge their legal obligations, the GMDA would charge them for “professional misconduct”.

“Wherever the RTPs are found to be party to the conspiracy along with the builder, action will be initiated according to the relevant sections of the law,” the official added.

The high court had directed the GMDA to find the erring officials whose negligence had led to the building violations and asked the authorities to initiate departmental proceedings against the guilty officials.

It is believed that the lack of regular monitoring and supervision, especially during the construction of the buildings by the technical personnel and the government officials, either by design or ignorance, is primarily responsible for the rampant violations of building bylaws in the city.