Saturday, January 14, 2023

Apartment: Problem with EV 'charging point'


Facility not in BBMP Bylaws; Electric Vehicle Owners in trouble

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

14 January 2023

BENGALURU: Electric vehicles (EVs), which are increasingly being produced and sold because they are less polluting and more economical, have become a problem for some apartments. Flat owners are not getting permission to set up a separate 'charging point'.

Flat owners are planning to set up a charging point in the parking area for EV charging. The vehicle company adopts it. But, they need a No Objection certificate (NOC) from the association. Some Associates refused to issue this NOC. This is not allowed in the building bylaws either. Therefore, some flat owners have written to the Energy Department, Bescom and requested them to take action.

The Additional Secretary of the Energy Department, who has considered the requests, said that there is a problem in installing electric vehicle charging points in private complexes. The building construction by-law needs to be amended. She sent a note on December 26 saying that the urban development department should check this.

I requested for installation of charging facility plug from the meter in our flat in the apartment. However, the association has not given permission. They say that the entire parking area will be damaged,' complained Ranjan.

If four vehicles are allowed to have separate charging facilities in the parking area, the ground will be damaged. There are wires everywhere. It also becomes a problem from the point of view of safety,' said Srinivas of an apartment residents' association.

Parking area in apartments is a 'common floor utility' space and if 'charging point' is allowed in this area, it all becomes commercial. Accordingly, electricity tariff has to be paid to Bescom. It is the argument of Apartment Residents Associations that it will be a burden on everyone else with the benefit of four or five vehicles.

Use of Kiosks is better...

Kiosks installed by private organizations free of cost for charging electric vehicles in apartments are good. All managed by the organization, vehicle charging can be done in prepaid facility through QR code. It also happens quickly. Credai-Bangalore President Bhaskar T Nagendrappa said that no one will be bothered by this.

New bylaw ready..

The Building Construction By-laws (Bylaws) were framed in 2003 under BBMP. These were revised and many new rules were framed and a 'New Bylaw' was prepared. The draft bylaw has been sent to the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) for approval. It will be implemented as soon as it is approved. Girish, Additional Director, Urban Planning Department, BBMP, said once new bylaw comes into force there will be no problem in installing the charging facility.

Electrical and Computer Engineering Building (ECEB) clause has been included in building plan approval since six months. Provision should be made for charging points in such buildings. But this does not apply to buildings whose plans have been obtained six months back. He informed that after the new bye-law comes, rules will have to be made to apply it to the old buildings as well.

ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಓದಲು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್ ಮಾಡಿ...

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