An important post in Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, which can give a definite shape to the city’s growth, has been lying vacant for nearly four years.
The post of Vice-Chairman, held by a senior IAS officer, fell vacant in May 2011. The Vice-Chairman heads the Administrative and Finance Committee, in addition to a few committees constituted under the Second Master Plan of CMDA. These committees ought to meet regularly to review CMDA’s plans, apart from deliberating on proposals to improve traffic and transportation and other aspects of overall urban development, sources said. A meeting on traffic and transportation improvement was to be held last month, but was cancelled in the absence of the Vice-Chairman.
The officer has a specific task of implementing ‘detailed development plans,’ which, according to the website of the agency, has been prepared for 56 pockets within Chennai city, but these plans too, have hit a dead-end.
The Minister for Housing and Urban Development is CMDA’s Chairman, while its Secretary is one of 20 board members. The Secretary, currently in charge of the Vice-Chairman’s post, also has to look after Housing, the Slum Clearance Boards and the Directorate of Town and Country Planning.
While Department of Housing and Urban Development officials did not respond to queries, sources said there was no immediate proposal to appoint a full time Vice-Chairman for CMDA.
The post is to be held by a senior IAS officer, and has been vacant since May 2011
