In a move that is likely to benefit individuals and help small-time builders save time and simplify procedures, the State government has reverted back to the practice of making zonal engineers of Greater Chennai Corporation issue planning permission for ordinary residential buildings (up to six homes).
The planning permissions were so far issued by the three Regional Deputy Commissioners. An order to this effect was issued on July 30 by D.P. Yadav, Housing Secretary who is also Member-Secretary (in charge) of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority.
Till mid- 2013, the zonal engineers of all the 15 zones were issuing the planning permissions. After that, the power was vested with the Regional Deputy Commissioners, following a request from the Corporation. “The arrangement made it too centralised. It is better if the planning permission is issued by the local authorities. When it is the practice in smaller local bodies in the neighbourhoods of the city, it should not be different in the Corporation,” said sources.
It was the Corporation, which on July 20, requested the government to revise the delegation of powers and to empower zonal engineers to issue planning permissions.
S. Ramaprabhu, honorary secretary, Builders’ Association of India’s Southern Centre, Chennai, said this would benefit individuals constructing homes on small plots and small-time builders and civil engineers who were entering the industry.
“Why should an applicant, for instance in Sholinganallur, come all the way to Adyar to get it cleared by the Regional Deputy Commissioner, South,” he asked. Making the zonal engineers issue planning permissions for individual homes and small projects would reduce the time taken to complete this paper work, Mr. Ramaprabhu said and added that it would make it easy for applicants to meet oficials.
The offices of the three Regional Deputy Commissioners are located in Royapuram, Shenoy Nagar, and Adyar for north, central, and south Chennai respectively.
