Pune: In a significant move to streamline the construction approval process, the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has lifted the requirement for developers to submit a 'No Objection Certificate' (NOC) for water supply when seeking construction permits in certain areas under its jurisdiction.

This decision applies to 23 villages within municipal limits and construction projects within a five-kilometer radius of municipal and municipal corporation boundaries.

Previously, PMRDA mandated that developers secure their own water supply or obtain an NOC from local authorities before construction permissions could be granted. This policy, although not a legal requirement, was introduced by PMRDA to ensure water availability for new developments.

Following resistance from the construction industry, the authority has now reversed its stance and issued revised guidelines that no longer necessitate an NOC from local bodies for water supply.

This change will facilitate the approval of construction projects in regions where municipal and council authorities are responsible for water supply, as per state government regulations.

The revised rules are expected to benefit hundreds of residents and developers in 242 villages within PMRDA’s developing regions, providing a smoother pathway to construction approvals, as confirmed by PMRDA Commissioner Dr. Yogesh Mhase.

However, outside these designated villages, construction projects will still need to provide a water supply certificate from the competent public authorities.

The certificate must confirm the availability of water from entities like the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporations, Maharashtra Water Authority, and other relevant agencies. For projects with wells or borewells, a water availability verification certificate from the Groundwater Survey and Development Agency will be required.

Additionally, the PMRDA has stated that projects seeking occupancy certificates, or those with existing certificates, will be assessed with consideration for third-party interests and timelines set by Maharashtra RERA. Such projects will be submitted to the PMRDA’s Executive Committee for water supply planning and further processing by the engineering department.