Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Stay orders being misused

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State government’s attempts to check unauthorised constructions have hit a roadblock with a section of builders and individuals allegedly misusing stay orders issued by the local self-government institutions tribunal to ward off punitive measures.

Official sources told The Hindu here on Thursday that builders and individuals tend to begin construction of residential and commercial buildings in anticipation of securing permission from the local body concerned. Once the civic chief issues a warning notice against unauthorised constructions, they move the tribunal and get stay orders. Though such orders are secured by citing genuine reasons, the stay period is often misused to complete the construction in violation of the Kerala Municipal Building Rules.

The Local Administration Department is understood to have identified hundreds of buildings constructed in blatant violation of the rules, but the drive to initiate punitive measures is impeded by the stay orders, in most of the cases, and by the alleged lackadaisical attitude of certain local bodies.

The vigilance wing of the Town and Country Planning Department is understood to have detected a number of unauthorised structures across the State, mainly within the corporation and municipal limits, and in the panchayats in and around Kochi where the Smart City project is to come up. Conversion of parking spaces in multi-storeyed buildings for commercial purposes, violation of floor area ratio norms and misuse of concessions given for surrendering land for development purposes have been detected and reported by the vigilance wing.

The Kerala Mayors Chamber is understood to have taken up the issue with the government. The chamber is said to have expressed its inability to take action against erring builders and individuals who arm themselves with the stay orders and complete the construction challenging the rule of law.

Considering the gravity of the violations, the government is learnt to have directed the local bodies to take stringent action against building rules violations. While a majority of the civic chiefs have started action in right earnest, the drive has been stalled by the stay orders.

The chamber is understood to have apprised the government of the legal hassles in lifting the stay orders. The time taken by the local bodies is feared to be misused by the violators for completing and regularising the structures. Planned development and optimum utilisation of space and resources would become a major casualty, it is being felt.

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

Stories in this Section

Workshop on Russian theatre concludes
Vector reduction drive begins
BSNL waives late fee
New doctoral, PG programmes at KAU
Pension scheme work on
Sonia’s condolences
Probe sought into accident
Stay orders being misused
Chief Secretary grade for Ananda Bose
Recruitment rally
AI increases flights to Mumbai
Socially Responsible Industries mooted
Minister expresses concern
Insurance must for elephants
Ration card distribution from July
‘Wanted’ man in police net
Radiology meet from today
Budget debate hinges on tax revision
Funds for hospitals at Vattiyoorkavu
‘Cut fossil fuel, tap the sun’
BSNL directive
Remembering Gorky’s contributions
Award for Toonz film
Thiruvananthapuram Today

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