Tamil Nadu   

Single window agency mooted for clearing building plans for IT firms

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu might lose out on business opportunity since officials were demanding bribeon “per square foot basis” for approving building plan of Information Technology (IT) firms, says Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT).

Quoting G.O dated September 12, 1996, ELCOT has authorised all IT builders and IT companies to commence the construction without waiting for approval. The G.O. says, “It has been decided that it is enough if the entrepreneurs submit the necessary application for plan approval to the appropriate authorities. They need not wait for the approval of these plans before beginning the construction.”

But they have to show the proof that they have submitted an application with the appropriate authority such as Director of Town and Country Planning or Chennai Metropolitan Development Agency (CMDA) that would look into all zoning regulations and other rules. However, the local bodies are entitled to receive the necessary charges as prescribed by the Government.

When Manapakkam panchayat president raised objection to the sudden move, ELCOT Managing Director C. Umashankar said “The applications should be accompanied by a certificate from a chartered architect or a civil engineer registered with the concerned local body conforming that the plan is not violating any rules or regulations, including the zoning regulations.”

Currently, the IT building promoters have to approach local village panchayat presidents for clearance at the lowest level, followed by a clearance by Block Development Officer and District Town and Country Planning (DTCP).

If it is a construction within Chennai Metropolitan area, the process commences either at the village panchayat/town panchayat level or at the municipal corporation level.

In a letter written to IT Secretary C. Chandramouli, a copy of which was made available to The Hindu, Mr. Umashankar said, “The IT industry in Tamil Nadu has been facing a series of hurdles in getting the building plan approval. We would like to point out that Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) concessions would come to an end during 2009. This is a business opportunity on the one side and the business loss on the other side. It is expected that large number of STPI units would move to Special Economic Zone (SEZ). A large number of real estate builders are putting up IT-specific SEZ across the state. IT buildings have to be constructed before the end of 2009 to meet the heavy demand. Hence, it is absolutely urgent to expedite the building approval process.”

According to Mr. Umashankar at every level there is not only delay, but also the hidden problems such as seeking of briberby officials and others.

Hence, he has mooted setting up of single window agency under the chairmanship of Minister for Information Parithi Ilamvazhuthi to provide immediate clearance. Apart from Mr. Chandramouli and Mr. Umashankar, the agency would have 10 members comprising Secretaries (of Housing and Urban Development, Environment and forest, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and CMDA), DTCP, Director-General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Director of Fire Service, Airports Authority of India representative and nominee from India Meteorological Department.

As per the proposal, Mr. Umashankar will be the convenor of the single window committee. He will be assisted by a six-member team to carry out preliminary scrutiny of applications.

The convenor will collect all applications seeking permission for construction of IT building and forward them to respective agencies for clearance.

He will also collect the necessary local body fees and transfer them to local bodies as and when the building plan approval is given.

The committee will meet at least once a month, preferably on every second Wednesday, to clear applications within 30 days.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Cancer can be conquered
No stings
Platform ticket counter
Arrested for selling illicit liquor
Frequent power cuts hit small units
Student robbed
Lexicographers hold key to quality translations
Annadurai remembered on his death anniversary
Vocational training for adolescent girls on
Needs of Dharapuram
“Migration from Tiruvannamalai has come down”
Keep learning to remain relevant, students told
Study probes reasons behind increase in road accidents
‘Quest’ begins for clean and safe environment
Competitions held
Kitchens in suburban government schools leave much to be desired
Fisherfolk net cash prizes for a change
Children take to tobacco before 10: researchers
Health camp for jail inmates
Plantation workers demand minimum daily wage of Rs.100
Water supply paralysed in Pudukottai town
Various school building works to be completed before March end
Karur farmers get flood relief
Power cuts
Delivering justice
Mettur level
Bridge work slows down
Act of creativity
Wanted: Urban Development Authority
Madurai in “final five” of Cognizant’s expansion plan
Clear pending cases at the earliest: Shah
Leprosy prevalence comes down, but experts want vigil in place
Woman kills children, attempts suicide
Special fares to Colombo
AISF appeal to students
Incentives distributed to ex-servicemen
CITU condemns arrest of workers
Single window agency mooted for clearing building plans for IT firms
“Retrieve Katchathivu”
“Favourable wave” for BJP: Thirunavukkarasar
Uphold Assembly decorum: PMK
Passengers’ plea
Public awareness programme
Let peace dwell in eyes
Tourist potential ignored
Anniversary celebrated
Wheeling and dealing of sorts
Women’s panel team to study ‘pottu kattuthal’

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu