Solar water heaters and rooftop solar panels are compulsory, according to Bengaluru’s municipal body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), in order for occupation certificates (OCs) to be issued.
What’s it about? According to B Manjesh, Joint Director (North) of Town Planning for the BBMP, no OC would be issued until these installations have been inspected. The BBMP headquarters in Bengaluru is in charge of inspecting all high-rise structures (G+4 and above), while zonal offices have control over other structures.
- This comes following several appeals to the municipal corporation about residences possessing occupation certificates despite not following this rule. A lot of these houses are not even fully constructed yet.
- Experts point out that despite not complying with requirements, more than 80% of the city’s residential structures have been granted OCs.