The response of the owners of unapproved plots in Coimbatore to the State Government’s scheme for regularisation continues to be lukewarm, if the figures available with the Coimbatore Corporation are anything to go by.
The Corporation had assessed the number of unapproved plots at over 35,000. As of November 13, three days ahead of the November 16 deadline, the number of regularisation orders the Corporation had issued stood at only 3,037.
Data available with the Corporation showed that it had received 7,007 applications – 2,849 from East Zone, 1,143 from West Zone, 1,840 from North Zone, 1,033 from South Zone and 142 from Central Zone for regularisation. And, of those Corporation had issued orders on 3,037 applications and was processing the rest.
Officials said that the Corporation receiving only a little over 7,000 applications could indicate that the response had been very poor. But the situation was not that bad as over 23,000 persons had registered online for the process.
The online registration was the first step as only those registered would be able to submit applications. Based on the online registration, the Corporation had sent letters to nearly 16,000 applicants seeking details and the 7,000-odd applications received was in response to that.
Even though the Government-given deadline is on November 16, those registered online would still be able to complete the process by complying with the formalities.
The Corporation had conducted awareness and application processing camps for regularisation on Tuesdays in the five zonal offices and would continue to hold the camps everyday till the deadline.
Those registered online could make use of the camps to know the documents they would have to submit and fee to be paid to complete the process.
The response would however remain tepid because of the process involved in regularising unapproved plots, said S. Kanagasundaram, former president, Licensed Building Surveyors Association.
The process was such that the Government, among other things, has demanded topographical sketch of the layout, acquiring which was a cumbersome process and many plots owners find it difficult.
The second was the fee of ₹50 a sq.ft. that the Government had fixed, way over the ₹5 a sq.ft. the DMK government had fixed when it introduced the scheme.
Corporation officials said that if the owners of unapproved plots failed to apply for regularisation in time, they would be unable to either sell their plots or get building plan approval, as stated in the relevant government order.
