Shimla: Using basements without permission to trigger MC action

The Shimla Municipal Corporation intends to take legal action against homeowners who utilize their basements for covert purposes. Certain wards inside the town have been complaining to the company about this.

The complainants claim that some building owners in the community are making additional money by renting out their basements for businesses.

According to the complaints, these homeowners are allegedly exploiting their basements as stores and parking lots. In response to the allegations, the Commissioner’s Court has received lawsuits brought against many building owners.

The company has instructed its field officers to monitor offenders after seeing the trend.

It has previously prosecuted similar offenders and ordered the destruction of the upper stories of similar structures in the wards of Jakhu and New Shimla.

Anybody wishing to build a structure in the town must first apply for authorization from the corporation and provide a map of the intended construction. However, the owner has not claimed to be able to utilize the building’s basement when requesting approval, as per the guidelines.