Creation of bodies on the lines of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority has been suggested for other cities in the State such as Coimbatore and Madurai.
This is among a number of recommendations made by a committee, headed by former Supreme Court Judge S. Mohan, to look into all aspects of development and suggest modifications to Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971.
Among the functions of the CMDA are carrying out surveys of the Chennai metropolitan planning area, preparing master plans or detailed development plans or new town development plans and preparing land use maps.
Constituted in June 2007, the committee, comprising six persons, held 33 hearings. On Friday, Mr. Justice Mohan submitted the report to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at the Secretariat.
Formation of the committee became necessary in the wake of rapid urbanisation in many parts of the State. Issues such as construction of high-rise buildings and related influence on overall building development – authorised and unauthorised – had to be addressed so that safety and health aspects of urban living could be taken care of. Referring to other recommendations, Mr. Justice Mohan said developers, before taking up development activity, would have to pay development charges to local authorities concerned.
As in Gujarat, the pooling system of development could be tried out. Under the system, if lands belonging to private individuals happen to constitute a small pocket in a locality where greater extent of lands belongs to the government or its agencies, the private lands can be pooled with the official resources for planned development.
Two years ago, the committee had recommended an amendment to the Act to address the issue of effective regulation and control of unauthorised and deviated constructions.
It was amended and enabled authorities to seal premises of buildings in the event of violation of building permits, he said.
