At least 464 engineering colleges in the State, including 76 in proximity to the Chennai Metropolitan Area, have flouted building norms by failing to obtain planning permission from town planning entities, according to town planning authorities.
According to preliminary estimates, around 95 per cent of the 2,935 colleges in the State have not obtained planning permission from the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), Chennai Corporation or the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA).
As many as 525 engineering colleges, 640 arts and science colleges, 447 polytechnics, 15 hotel management institutes, 660 B.Ed colleges, 11 medical colleges, 18 dental colleges and 619 industrial training institutes are under the scanner.
Only three engineering colleges in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur district have planning permission from the DTCP. The town planning agency has started issuing notices to all the 464 engineering colleges constructed without planning permission. The colleges will have to submit documents within one month, failing which the buildings will be locked and sealed as per the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971.
The Chennai Corporation also plans to start a field-level verification of all private educational institutions, colleges and research centres, in the city’s 426 sq-km area.
Officials from the 200 wards of the civic body are yet to complete a survey of the institutional buildings to identify violations and encroachments. If violations are identified, the Corporation will also issue notices to the owners under provisions of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 and take appropriate action.
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority issues planning permission to institutional buildings such as schools, colleges, higher educational institutions, technical institutions and research centres. The Chennai Corporation issues building approvals.
Many colleges seemed to have ignored building regulations because the All-India Council for Technical Education earlier did not insist on engineering colleges producing approved building plans before granting permission, according to a senior civil engineering professor.
While most colleges have acknowledged the receipt of notices from the DTCP, they claim such notices are a regular affair every year. “Those who have the approvals have nothing to worry about. We plan ahead and get approvals, only after which design or construction work begins,” says Kala Vijayakumar, principal, SSN Group of Institutions.
She suggests that to prevent being charged with violations, colleges need to have 10-year plans, depending on the expected increase in students and courses.
“The planning should be done well ahead, keeping two years aside for getting approval,” says Ms. Vijayakumar. Most reputable colleges have added at least five additional blocks, laboratories, auditoriums and facilities in the last few years.
Officials at Satyabhama University said they had received no notification from any civic body.
Keywords: building norms, engineering colleges, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, Directorate of Town and Country Planning, flouting norms
what the government officials so lethargic on these matters,we doubt some under dealings between them.strong action should be
taken against all of them
Before taking action against the Educational Institutions what is action
against the Panchayats who gave the approval. What action is proposed
against the local authorities and Universities which gave affiliation
after checking approval etc. No one takes action against regulatory
authorities. This action seems to motivated for some ulterior reason.
This is not an unusual thing to happen; almost everywhere rules are flouted often with impunity. If for flouting rules heavy fines are recovered from those who are in control of management of these colleges, others will be deterred to flout rules in future. But the bitter fact is hat since managements of these colleges are in the hands of influential politicians, no action would ever be taken.
Several of the colleges are outside the city limits and major town limits. There were no laws at the time when these colleges are coming up. Now these officials suddenly wake-up from their slumber and come up with new rules.
It is another way for the officials to take bribes and fill their pockets. IF you want to enforce the rules, start providing clean water within your corporation limits. Pick up garbage within your city limits. Whethre Chennai, trichy, madural whatever city you administer.
Then try to go after outside your city limits by formulating statewide rules and regulations.
Indian officials are one of the most corrupt and innovative in taking bribes.
If India is interested in enforcing its laws and wants to be seen as a country ruled by law, then all these colleges must be shut down.
Please Email the Editor