The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Training cameras on illegal buildings

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Training cameras on illegal buildings

Special Correspondent

Officials to record evidence on digital cameras

Mayor admits to lax follow-up after issue of notices
Building permits can be applied online soon

Thiruvananthapuram: Officials in the Town Planning Department of the City Corporation will soon be provided with digital cameras to record evidence of unauthorised constructions.

Mayor C. Jayan Babu told the Corporation council here on Friday that Assistant Engineers in the department would be provided with cameras. He was intervening in a discussion on a resolution moved by Kuriyathi ward councillor Sasi on the spate of unauthorised constructions in the city.

The Mayor said efforts were on to make the Town Planning department more efficient and corruption- free. “Stern action will be taken to curb unauthorised constructions. Review meetings are being held regularly and registers will be maintained at all zonal offices. Applications for building permits will soon be accepted online,” he said.

Mr. Babu, however, admitted that there were lapses in follow-up after notices were issued for unauthorised construction activity. Expressing concern over the low success rate while fighting cases relating to unauthorised constructions, he said a meeting of lawyers, standing committee chairpersons and officials from the Town Planning department would be held on December 5 to discuss the issue and finalise means to initiate a legal crackdown.

Opposition UDF members raised a storm of protest at the meeting and shouted slogans alleging tardy progress of the coastal housing scheme and discrimination in identifying beneficiaries. Welfare standing committee chairman S.A. Sundar said the applications were only being processed. He said the delay was on account of some families applying both for maintenance of houses and new construction.

Not satisfied with the reply, the UDF members stormed the well of the house and shouted slogans for some time.

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